2003
Glossary of Forest Fire
Management Terms
2003
THE 2003
GLOSSARY OF FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT TERMS
PREFACE
This glossary gives definitions of terms most commonly used in Canada in the field of forest fire management. It also
includes terms that are commonly found in forest fire management literature, although not all of these terms are
widely used in field operations at this time. The main purpose of the glossary is to provide a means of achieving a
common understanding of the vocabulary used in forest fire management and to promote the use of standard
terminology among forest fire agencies across the country. It is intended primarily for operational personnel, and for
use in training and educational programs.
This 2002 edition of the glossary includes definitions found in the Canadian Incident Command System, along with
the terms contained in the previous editions. These additions and revisions reflect changes in philosophies and
techniques of forest fire control and fire use practices which have generated the broader field of forest fire
management. Throughout the glossary, "forest" is broadly interpreted as meaning any natural vegetation.
The main terms in bold type (e.g. Forest Fire), which are defined, are preferred for national usage. Abbreviations and
acronyms are also included where appropriate. Words in bold type used in a definition are terms that are defined
elsewhere in the glossary. Synonyms, which have equivalent or near equivalent meanings to the main term, are
included following a definition. In some cases, a main term or a synonym is unique to one part of the country or the
world. Such local usage is indicated. However, no attempt was made to include all localized synonyms. The main
terms and synonyms included in this glossary are recommended; use of any other synonyms is discouraged.
The words "See" and "Note" following a definition or a main term direct the glossary user to another term or group of
terms. "See" indicates a synonym and refers the user to the preferred term (e.g. the entry for aerial fuels on page 1
refers the reader to the preferred term crown fuels on page 7). "Note" indicates related or opposite terms (e.g. density
altitude is defined on page 7 and is related to downloading , defined on page 8). "Note" sometimes refers the user to a
grouping of terms where several main terms are defined (e.g. fire boss is entered on page 11 but is defined under the
collective term fire overhead on page 13).
The International System of Units (SI) is used within the glossary where appropriate. A list of SI to English or old
metric unit conversion factors is included as Appendix I of this glossary.
A separate but similar French glossary is being prepared by french speaking representatives of the forest fire
management agencies and will be published on completion.
French terms used in forest fire management and their English Equivalents are included as Appendix II of this
glossary.
English terms used in forest fire management and their French Equivalents are included as Appendix III of this
glossary.
As forest fire management terminology is constantly evolving, this glossary will be reviewed again. Comments,
suggestions, revisions, and additions should be sent to:
The Glossary Team, Chair
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
210-310 Weston Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3H4
[email protected]
www.ciffc.ca
A
Agency Resource Representative - An individual
assigned to an incident from an assisting or
cooperating agency that has been delegated
authority to make decisions on matters affecting
that agency's participation at the incident. Agency
Resource Representatives report to the Incident
Liaison Officer.
Abort - Used to cancel an intended manoeuvre.
Action Plan: see Incident Action Plan
Active Crown Fire - Note Forest Fire (1).
Air Attack -A fire suppression operation involving
the use of aircraft to deliver fire fighting forces,
suppressants, or retardants to or on a fire.
Adjusted Duff Moisture Code - Note Buildup Index
under Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System.
Air Attack Boss (LFO) -A person responsible for
discovering, locating, and reporting wildfires from
aircraft. May be planned or unplanned.
directing and coordinating multiple aircraft operating
on a specific fire or division of a fire. See Air
Tactical Group Supervisor
Aerial Detection Observer - A person assigned to
Air Attack Officer - The person responsible for
discover, locate and report wildfires from a detection
aircraft and to observe and describe conditions
concerning detected fires. Also known as air
observer.
directing, coordinating, and supervising a fire
suppression operation involving the use of aircraft
to deliver retardants, suppressants, or fire fighting
forces to or on a fire.
Aerial Detection - A system for or the act of
Air Cargo - All items for transport and delivery by
Aerial Fuels - See Crown Fuels.
aircraft.
Aerial Ignition - The ignition of fuels by dropping
Air Mass - A meteorological term referring to an
incendiary devices or materials from aircraft.
extensive body of air within which the conditions of
temperature and moisture in a horizontal plane are
essentially uniform.
Aerial Ignition Device (AID) - Any device used for
the purpose of aerial ignition. Note Delayed Aerial
Ignition Device and Helitorch.
Air Operations Branch Director (ICS)- The
person primarily responsible for preparing and
implementing the air operations portion of the
Incident Action Plan. Also responsible for
providing logistical support to helicopters
operating on the incident.
Agency - An agency is a division of government
with a specific function, or a non- governmental
organization (e.g., private contractor, business,
etc.) that offers a particular kind of assistance. In
ICS, agencies are defined as jurisdictional (having
statutory responsibility for incident mitigation) or
assisting and/or cooperating (providing resources
and/or assistance). (See Assisting Agency,
Cooperating Agency, and Multi-agency.)
Air Operations Officer (LFO) - The person
responsible for coordinating all air operations (e.g.
fire bombing, aerial detection, cargo dropping,
transport) within an administrative unit or from an
operating base. See Air Operation Branch Director
Agency Dispatch - The agency or jurisdictional
facility from which resources are allocated to
incidents.
Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ICS) - The
person primarily responsible for the coordination
of all tactical missions of fixed and/or rotary-wing
aircraft operating in incident airspace.
Agency Executive or Administrator - Chief
executive officer (or designee) of the agency or
jurisdiction that has responsibility for the
incident.
Air Temperature - See Dry-bulb Temperature.
Glossary - 1 -
Forecast.
Airtanker - A fixed-wing aircraft fitted with tanks and
equipment for dropping suppressants or retardants
on fires. Note Helitanker.
Airtanker Base - An operational base, either
permanent or temporary, at which airtankers are
held in readiness for action on fires. Includes
dispatch facilities, crew day quarters, limited
equipment storage, and administrative facilities. May
also be equipped to provide fire retardant. Note
Retardant Base.
Aspect - The direction a slope is facing; its exposure in
relation to the sun (e.g. north, east, south, west).
Assigned Resources - Resources checked in and
assigned work tasks on an incident.
Assignments - Tasks given to resources to perform
within a given operational period, based upon
tactical objectives in the Incident Action Plan.
Assistant - Title for subordinates of the Command
Allocated Resources - Resources dispatched to an
Staff positions. The title indicates a level of
technical capability, qualifications, and
responsibility subordinate to the primary
positions. Assistants may also be used to
supervise unit activities at camps.
incident.
Allowable Burned Area - A standard or objective of
protection effort set for an area of managed forest or
other land. The maximum average annual area
burned by wildfire over a given period of years that
can be tolerated and sustained for a given area
without disrupting overall forest management and
other land use objectives.
Assisting Agency - An agency directly contributing
tactical or service resources to another agency.
Atmospheric Pressure - The gravitational force
exerted by a column of air extending from the point
of concern to the outer limits of the atmosphere.
Recommended SI unit is the kilopascal (kPa),
although millibar (mb) has been the most common
unit of measurement. Synonym - Barometric
Pressure. Note Pressure Altitude.
Anchor Point - An advantageous location, usually a
barrier to fire spread, from which to start or finish
construction of a control line.
Anemometer - A general name for instruments
designed to measure wind speed.
Atmospheric Stability - A meteorological term
Angled Strip Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
Area Command (optional feature in CICS) – An
organization established to: 1) oversee the
management of multiple incidents that are each
being handled by an Incident Command System
organization; or 2) to oversee the management of a
very large incident that has multiple Incident
Management Teams assigned to it. Area
Command has the responsibility to set overall
strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources
based on priorities, ensure that incidents are
properly managed, and ensure that objectives are
met and strategies followed.
Area Grid Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
Area Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
Area Weather Forecast - Note Fire Weather
Glossary - 2 -
referring to the resistance of the atmosphere to
turbulence and vertical motion (upward). With
reference to fire management activities the
atmosphere is usually described as neutral, stable,
or unstable with respect to the dry adiabatic lapse
rate (DALR):
Neutral Atmosphere - The temperature
decrease with altitude is equal to the DALR
(the atmosphere neither aids nor hinders largescale vertical motion).
Stable Atmosphere - The temperature
decrease with altitude is less than the DALR
(the atmosphere tends to suppress large-scale
vertical motion).
Unstable Atmosphere - The temperature
decrease with altitude is greater than the
DALR (the atmosphere tends to support large-
scale vertical motion).
Back Tank - See Back-pack Pump.
Attack - The actual physical fire fighting operation.
Note Fire Suppression.
Barometric Pressure - See Atmospheric Pressure.
Attack Centre - See Initial Attack Base.
Base: see Incident Base
Attack Time - Note Elapsed Time.
Base Camp - A strategically located camp through
which personnel, equipment, and supplies are
distributed to line camps ; usually serves as the fire
headquarters from which key overhead personnel
plan and direct suppression operations.
Automatic Lightning Detection System - See
Lightning Locator System.
Available Fuel - The quantity of fuel in a particular
fuel type that would actually be consumed under
specified burning conditions.
Available Resources – Incident-based resources
Base of a Fire - See Back of a Fire under Forest Fire
(2).
Bay(s) of a Fire - Note Forest Fire (2).
which are ready for deployment.
Beaufort Wind Scale - A method for estimating wind
Axe, fire - A single bit fireline axe with an overall
speed based on observation of visual indicators of
wind effects (e.g. smoke drift, flag and tree
movement). Suggested for use when an anemometer
is lacking or is not in operating condition.
length of 35d-inches (90 cm) and a head mass of 3.5
pounds (1.6 kg). The style of the axe head is
commonly referred to as the "Dayton " pattern.
Being Held - Note Control a Fire.
Being Observed - Note Control a Fire.
B
Being Patrolled- Note Control a Fire.
Belt Weather Kit - A type of portable fire weather
Backfire - A fire spreading, or set to spread, into or
station. It includes a sling psychrometer, water
bottle (for saturating the wick of the wet-bulb
thermometer), psychrometric slide rule or tables,
hand-held windmeter, compass, pencil(s), and a
booklet of weather re port forms, carried in a canvas
case with fitted pockets which can be attached to a
person's belt.
against the wind. Note Head Fire and Flank Fire.
Backfire Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
Backfiring (Backfired) - A form of indirect attack
where extensive fire is set along the inner edge of a
control line or natural barrier, usually some distance
from the wildfire and taking advantage of indrafts,
to consume fuels in the path of the fire, and thereby
halt or retard the progress of the fire front.
Birddog Aircraft - An aircraft carrying the person
directing fire bombing action on a fire. Also known
as the Birddog.
Back of a Fire - Note Forest Fire (2).
Blind Area - Note Seen Area.
Back-pack-Pump - A portable water container
Blowdown - See Windfall.
equipped with a hand pump and back-pack straps
carried on the back of fire fighters; used for applying
water in suppression and mop-up operations.
Synonyms - Back Tank and Pack Pump.
Blowup - A somewhat sudden, and sometimes
Glossary - 3 -
unexpected, major increase in rate of spread and
frontal fire intensity sufficient to upset overall fire
suppression action or plans. Blowups can result
from small or large fire situations. Note Fire Run and
Flareup.
is set to consume islands of unburned fuel inside
the fire perimeter during mop-up operations.
Burning Out (Burnout) - A fire suppression
Board of Review - A committee selected to review
operation where fire is set along the inside edge of a
control line or natural barrier to consume unburned
fuel between the line and the fire perimeter, thereby
reinforcing the existing line and speeding up the
control effort. Generally a limited, small-scale routine
operation as opposed to backfiring.
results of fire suppression action within a given
area, or the specific action taken on a given fire, to
identify reasons for either effective or ineffective
action, and to recommend or prescribe ways and
means of doing a more effective and efficient job in
the future. Synonym - Fire Post Mortem.
Burning Period - That part of each 24-hour day when
Branch (ICS) - The organizational level having
fires are generally the most active. Typically, this is
from mid -morning to sundown, although it varies
with latitude and the time of year.
functional or geographic responsibility for major
parts of incident operations. The Branch level is
organizationally between Section and
Division/Group in the Operations Section, and
between Section and Units in the Logistics
Section. Branches are identified by the use of
Roman Numerals or by functional name (e.g.,
medical, security, etc.)
Burning Prescription - A written statement and/or
Breakover (Fire) - A fire edge that crosses a section
list defining the objectives to be attained from
prescribed burning , as well as the burning
conditions under which fire will be allowed to burn,
generally expressed as acceptable ranges of the
various parameters, and the limit of the geographic
area to be covered.
of a control line intended to confine a going fire.
synonym - Slopover
Burn or Burned Area - Any unit of land over which
a fire of any kind has spread. Recommended SI unit
for area burned is hectares (ha). Note Fire Size
Class.
Bridge Fuels - See Ladder Fuels .
Broadcast Burning - Intentional burning of debris on
a designated unit of land, where the fuel has not
been piled or windrowed, by allowing fire to spread
freely over the entire area. Note Ignition Pattern.
Burn-out Time - The duration of active flaming and
smouldering combustion at a given point in the
ground, surface and crown fuel layers, expressed in
convenient units of time. Note Residence Time.
Bucker -An individual who is qualified to cut up trees
Bust (Fire) - See Multiple Fire Situation.
on the ground.
Buildup - The cumulative effects of those fire weather
Byram's Fireline Intensity - See Frontal Fire
elements that cause drying of forest fuels and
thereby heighten fire danger.
Intensity.
C
Buildup Index - Note Canadian Forest Fire Weather
Index System.
Burning Conditions - The state of the combined
components of the fire environment that influence
fire behaviour and fire impact in a given fuel type.
Usually specified in terms of such factors as fire
weather elements, fire danger indexes, fuel load,
and slope.
Cache - A pre-determined complement of tools,
equipment, and/or supplies stored in a designated
location, available for incident use.
Camp - A geographical site, within the general
Burning Off - A fire suppression operation where fire
Glossary - 4 -
incident area, separate from the Incident Base,
equipped and staffed to provide sleeping, food,
water, and sanitary service to incident personnel.
representing rate of spread, amount of available fuel,
and fire intensity; their values increase as fire
weather severity worsens.
Campaign Fire - A fire of such size, complexity and/or
priority that its extinction requires a large
organization, high resource commitment, significant
expenditure, and prolonged suppression activity.
Synonym - Project Fire.
The six standard codes and indexes of the FWI System
are:
Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction
(FBP) System - A subsystem of the Canadian
Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) - A
numerical rating of the moisture content of
litter and other cured fine fuels . This code
indicates the relative ease of ignition and
flammability of fine fuel.
Forest Fire Danger Rating System. The FBP
System provides quantitative outputs of selected
fire behaviour characteristics for certain major
Canadian fuel types and topographic situations. For
example, head fire rate of spread, which can be
adjusted for the mechanical effects of slope, is
expressed in metres per minute (m/min). The system
depends partly on the Canadian Forest Fire
Weather Index System components as inputs.
Duff Moisture Code (DMC) - A numerical
rating of the average moisture content of
loosely compacted organic layers of moderate
depth. This code indicates fuel consumption
in moderate duff layers and medium-sized
woody material.
Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System
(CFFDRS) - The national system of rating fire
Drought Code (DC) - A numerical rating of the
average moisture content of deep, comp act,
organic layers. This code indicates seasonal
drought effects on forest fuels, and the
amount of smouldering in deep duff layers
and large logs.
danger in Canada; referred to as the Canadian Forest
Fire Behaviour or Behaviour Rating System before
1976. The CFFDRS includes all guides to the
evaluation of fire danger and the prediction of fire
behaviour such as the Canadian Forest Fire weather
Index System and Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour
Prediction System.
Initial Spread Index (ISI) - A numerical rating
of the expected rate of fire spread. It combines
the effects of wind and FFMC on rate of
spread but excludes the influence of variable
quantities of fuel.
Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI)
System - A subsystem of the Canadian Forest Fire
Danger Rating System; referred to previously by a
variety of names (e.g. Canadian Forest Fire Weather
Index, Canadian Fire Weather Index, Canadian
Forest Fire Weather Index Tables). The components
of the FWI System provide numerical ratings of
relative fire potential in a standard fuel type (i.e. a
mature pine stand) on level terrain, based solely on
consecutive observations of four fire weather
elements measured daily at noon (1200 hours local
standard time or 1300 hours daylight saving time) at
a suitable fire weather station; the elements are drybulb temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and
precipitation. The system provides a uniform
method of rating fire danger across Canada.
The FWI System consists of six components. The first
three are fuel moisture codes that follow daily
changes in the moisture contents of three classes of
forest fuel; higher values represent lower moisture
contents and hence greater flammability. The final
three components are fire behaviour indexes
Buildup Index (BUI) - A numerical rating of the
total amount of fuel available for combustion
that combines DMC and DC. (Referred to as
the Adjusted Duff Moisture Code or ADMC
between 1969 and 1975).
Fire weather Index (FWI) - A numerical rating
of fire intensity that combines ISI and BUI. It
is suitable as a general index of fire danger
throughout the forested areas of Canada.
Canadian Incident Command System (CICS) –
see Incident Command System
Candle or Candling - See Torch or Torching under
Fire Behaviour.
Cargo Dropping - The dropping of equipment or
supplies from an aircraft in flight, with or without a
Glossary - 5 -
parachute.
Closed Area - An area in which specified activities or
entry are temporarily restricted by agency legislation
to reduce risk of man-caused fire. In some
jurisdictions a closed area is called a restricted
travel zone or a restricted fire zone.
Cargo Net - A special net, approved by the Ministry of
Transport, attached by a lanyard to a helicopter
cargo hook and used to haul supplies. Note Sling.
Centre Fire Ignition (Centre Firing) - Note Ignition
Pattern.
Centrifugal Pump - A pump that expels water by
centrifugal force through the ports of a circular
impeller rotating at high speed. This type of pump
allows the discharge line to be shut off while the
pump is running.
Coarse Fuels - See Heavy Fuels.
Cold Front - Note Front.
Cold Trailing - Note Fire Suppression.
Combustion - A chemical oxidation-type process in
which heat is produced (i.e. a substance is combined
with oxygen). In the case of forest fires , living and
dead fuels are converted to mainly carbon dioxide
and water vapour, and heat energy is released very
rapidly. Flaming combustion is characterized by the
movement of a visible flame through the fuel bed. On
the other hand, smouldering or glowing combustion
is generally associated with the residual burning of
forest fuels following flaming combustion.
Certification - Classification of a fire management
position based on personnel training, experience,
physical fitness and proven ability.
Chain of Command - A series of management
positions in order of authority.
Charcoal Phase of Combustion - Note Combustion.
Combustion actually consis ts of three more or less
distinct but overlapping phases:
Charged Line - A line of fire hose filled with water
under pressure.
Preheating Phase - Unburned fuel is raised to
its ignition temperature and gaseous vapours
begin to evolve.
Check-in - The process whereby resources first
report to an incident. Check- in locations include:
Incident Command Post (Resources Unit),
Incident Base, Camps, Staging Areas, Helibases,
Helispots, and Division Supervisors (for direct
line assignments).
Distillation or Gaseous Phase - The flammable
gases escaping from the fuel surface are
ignited in the presence of oxygen. Energy in
the form of heat and light is produced.
Chevron Ignition - Note Maple Leaf Ignition under
Charcoal or Solid Phase - The presence of
combustible vapours above the fuel is too low
to support a persistent flame. The residual
solid fuel or char burns away slowly.
Ignition Pattern.
Chicot - See Snag.
Chief - The ICS title for individuals responsible for
Command - The act of directing and/or controlling
command of functional sections: Operations,
Planning, Logistics, and Finance/
Administration.
resources by virtue of explicit legal, agency, or
delegated authority. May also refer to the Incident
Commander.
Class of Fire - Note Fire Size Class.
Command Post: See Incident Command Post
Clear Te xt - The use of plain English in radio
communications transmissions. No Ten Codes or
agency-specific codes are used when utilizing
Clear Text.
Command Staff - The Command Staff consists of
Glossary - 6 -
the Information Officer, Safety Officer, and
Liaison Officer. They report directly to the
Incident Commander. They may have an assistant
or assistants, as needed.
burning off any unwanted island(s) inside the
control lines; and cooling down all hot spots that are
immediate threats to the control line until the lines
can be expected to hold under foreseeable
conditions. Stages of Control are:
Commissary - Items such as tobacco, cigarette
papers, clothing, and other items for personal use
that are available for sale to personnel working on a
forest fire.
Out of Control - Describes a wildfire not
responding or only responding on a limited
basis to suppression action such that
perimeter spread is not being contained.
Synonym - Not Under Control.
Communications Unit - An organizational unit in
the Logistics Section responsible for providing
communication services at an incident. A
Communications Unit may also be a facility (e.g., a
trailer or mobile van) used to provide the major
part of an Incident Communications Centre
Being Held - Indicates that with currently
committed resources, sufficient suppression
action has been taken that the fire is not likely
to spread beyond existent or predetermined
boundaries under prevailing and forecasted
conditions.
Compacts - Formal working agreements among
member agencies to obtain mutual aid.
Compensation Unit/Claims Unit - Functional unit
within the Finance/ Administration Section
responsible for financial concerns resulting from
property damage, injuries, or fatalities at the
incident.
Being Observed - Currently not receiving
suppression action, due to agency policy and
management guidelines.
Under Control - Having received sufficient
suppression action to ensure no further
spread of the fire.
Complex - Two or more individual incidents located
in the same general area which are assigned to a
single Incident Commander or to Unified
Command.
Being Patrolled - In a state of mop-up, being
walked over and checked.
Condition of Herbaceous Vegetation - The
proportion, expressed as a percentage, of the cured
and/or dead materials in the vegetation component
of surface fuels. Herbaceous plants within a fuel
type may consist of grasses, herbs, forbs, and fe rns
but not woody-stemmed upright or trailing shrubs.
Out - Having been extinguished.
Control Line - A comprehensive term for all
constructed or natural fire barriers and treated fire
perimeter used to control a fire. Note Fireguard
and Fireline.
Conduction - Note Heat Transfer.
Conflagration - A popular term for a large, fastmoving wildfire exhibiting many or all of the features
associated with extreme fire behaviour. Note
Blowup and Fire Storm.
Control Time - Note Elapsed Time .
Convection (1)
In meteorology, vertical atmospheric motion in
a predominantly unstable atmosphere.
Convection is used often to imply only upward
vertical motion, and in this sense is opposite
to subsidence.
(2)
Note Heat Transfer.
Constant Flow Tank System
A single compartment tank with a computer-controlled
door system. Capable of single or multiple even-flow
releases for designated coverage levels.
Control a Fire - To complete a control line around a
fire, any spot fires therefrom, and any interior
island(s) to be saved; burning out any unburned
areas adjacent to the fire side of the control lines;
Convection Burning - Note Centre Fire Ignition
under Ignition Pattern.
Convection Column - The definable plume of hot
Glossary - 7 -
gases, smoke, firebrands , and other combustionbyproducts produced by and rising above a fire. Note
Smoke Column under Smoke (2).
Cooperating Agency - An agency supplying
(litres per metre squared).
Creeping (Fire) - Note Fire Behaviour.
Crew (ICS) : see Single Resource
assistance other than direct tactical or support
functions or resources to the incident control
effort (e.g., Red Cross, telephone company, etc.)
Crew Boss - Note Fire Overhead.
Crew Foreman - See Crew Boss under Fire
Coordination - The process of systematically
analyzing a situation, developing relevant
information, and informing appropriate command
authority of viable alternatives, for selection of the
most effective combination of available resources
to meet specific objectives. The coordination
process (which can be either intra- or interagency)
does not involve dispatch actions. However,
personnel responsible for coordination may
perform command or dispatch functions within the
limits established by specific agency delegations,
procedures, legal authority, etc.
Coordination Centre - Term used to describe any
facility that is used for the coordination of agency
or jurisdictional resources in support of one or
more incidents.
Overhead.
Cross Bearings - Intersecting lines of sight from two
or more points on the same object; used to
determine the location of a wildfire from lookouts.
Synonym - Cross Shots.
Crossover - The point at which the relative humidity is
less than, or equal to, the ambient air temperature.
May be used as an indicator of extreme burning
conditions .
Cross Shots - See Cross Bearings.
Crown Fire - Note Forest Fire (1).
Crown Fraction Burned (CFB) - As used in the
context of the Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour
Prediction System, CFB is a measure of the degree
of potential crown fuel consumption exp ressed as a
proportion of the total number of tree crowns and as
such constitutes an indication of the probable type
of fire activity to be experienced over a burned area
for fuel types that are susceptible to crowning .
Cost Sharing Agreements - Agreements between
agencies or jurisdictions to share designated
costs related to incidents. Cost sharing
agreements are normally written but may also be
oral between authorized agency or jurisdictional
representatives at the incident.
Cost Unit - Functional unit within the
< 10%Surface Fire;
10% - 89%Intermittent Fire;
> 90%Continuous Crown Fire. Note Forest
Fire
Finance/Administration Section responsible for
tracking costs, analyzing cost data, making cost
estimates, and recommending cost-saving
measures.
Coupling, quick-connect, external-lug - A cast or
Crown Fuels - The standing and supported forest
forged metal hose coupling that incorporates a
universal coupling system with two external fitting
lugs.
combustibles not in direct contact with the ground
that are generally only consumed in crown fires (e.g.
foliage, twigs, branches, cones). Synonym - Aerial
Fuels. Note Ground, Surface, and Ladder Fuels.
Cover Type - The designation of a vegetation complex
according to its dominant species, age, and/or form.
Crown Scorch - Browning of the needles or leaves in
Coverage Level - The volume per unit area of fire
the crown of a tree or shrub caused by the heat
rising above a surface fire as a result of convection.
suppression chemical or water dispersed on a forest
fuel described in US gallons per 100 square feet
Crowning - Note Fire Behaviour.
Glossary - 8 -
delegating authority and assigning responsibility.
The Delegation of Authority can include
objectives, priorities, expectations, constraints,
and other considerations or guidelines as needed.
Many agencies require written Delegation of
Authority to be given to Incident Commanders
prior to their assuming command on larger
incidents.
Cupola - Note Lookout Cupola.
D
Demobilization Unit - Functional unit within the
Planning Section responsible for assuring orderly,
safe and efficient demobilization of incident
resources.
Daily Severity Rating - A numerical measure, based
on the Fire Weather Index (FWI), specifically
designed for averaging, either for any desired period
of time (e.g. week, month, year) at a single fire
weather station or spatially over a number of
stations. The FWI itself, on the other hand, is not
considered suitable for averaging, and should be
used as its single daily value only. The DSR
averaged over a whole fire season is termed the
Seasonal Severity Rating (SSR) which can be used
as an objective measure for comparing fire weather
severity from one season to the next, or the fire
climate of one region with another.
Damage Appraisal - A method of determining
Density Altitude - Altitude as determined by
pressure altitude and existing air temperature.
Density altitude is used as an index to aircraft
performance characteristics such as take-off
distance and rate of climb. Note Downloading .
Dependent Crown Fire - See Active Crown Fire
under Forest Fire (1).
Depth of Burn (DOB) - The reduction in forest floor
thickness due to consumption by the fire process;
most commonly used in connection with prescribed
burning. Recommended SI unit is centimetres (cm).
financial or other losses resulting from a wildfire.
Note Fire Damage(s) and Fire Effects Value
Appraisal.
Deputy - A fully qualified individual who, in the
Danger Tree - A tree that is hazardous because of
absence of a superior, could be delegated the
authority to manage a functional operation or
perform a specific task. In some cases, a Deputy
could act as relief for a superior and therefore must
be fully qualified in the position. Deputies can be
assigned to the Incident Commander, General
Staff, and Branch Directors.
location or lean, physical damage, overhead hazards,
deterioration of the limbs, stem or root system, or
any combination. Note snags, chicots
Day Basing - A procedure whereby initial attack
resources are positioned away from their regular
administrative or operational base for a burning
period, in anticipation and readiness for fires that
may start in a given area. A procedure used primarily
in areas where there is a high probability of lightning
and very high fire danger. (Term used primarily in
Alberta).
Delayed Aerial Ignition Device (DAID) - An
incendiary device producing a chemical reaction
which, when dropped from a flying aircraft, will
ignite after a predetermined elapsed time. Note
Aerial Ignition Device.
Detection - Note Fire Detection.
Detection Aircraft - An aircraft deployed for the
express purpose of discovering, locating, and
reporting wildfires. Note Aerial Detection.
Detection Pattern - A predetermined flight plan for
detection aircraft.
Dew Point or Dew-point Temperature (DP) - The
Delegation of Authority - A statement provided to
the Incident Commander by the Agency Executive
Glossary - 9 -
temperature to which air must be cooled to reach
saturation at a constant atmospheric pressure. The
DP is always lower than the wet-bulb temperature
which in turn is always lower than the dry-bulb
temperature. The only exception to this occurs
when the air is saturated (i.e. relative humidity is
100%), in which case all three are equal.
Recommended SI unit is degrees Celsius (?C).
Division (LFO)- The segment of the fire perimeter
Dew-point Spread - The difference between the dry-
Division Boss (LFO) - Note Fire Overhead. See
consisting of two or more sectors. Note Division
Boss under Fire Overhead. See Division (ICS)
bulb temperature and dew point. Recommended SI
unit is degrees Celsius (?C).
Division/Group Supervisor
Division Foreman - See Division Boss under Fire
Difficulty of Control - The amount of effort required
to contain and mop-up a fire based on its behaviour
and persistence as determined by the fire
environment. Note Resistance to Control and
Resistance to Fireguard Construction.
Overhead.
Documentation Unit - Functional unit within the
Planning Section responsible for collecting,
recording, and safeguarding all documents
relevant to the incident.
Direct Attack - Note Fire Suppression, Direct.
Downloading - A reduction in aircraft gross weight
Direction Finder (DF) - An electronic field sensor
made to compensate for loss of performance due to
increase in density altitude , or due to runway length
or other reasons.
which determines the strength, polarity, time, and
relative bearing of a cloud-to-ground lightning flash
and transmits this data to a position analyzer.
Drift - Advice or indication that a wind condition exists
Director - The ICS title for individuals responsible
of sufficient velocity to significantly affect fire
bombing drop placement and that a correction factor
must be allowed for wind drift.
for supervision of a Branch.
Discharge Head - Note Static Discharge Head.
Drift Smoke - Note Smoke (2).
Discovery - Determination that a fire exists at a specific
location; in contrast to action related to detection,
reporting of the fire is not required.
Drip Torch - A hand-held incendiary device that
releases slow-burning
predetermined rate.
flaming
fuel
at
a
Discovery Time - Note Elapsed Time.
Drop height - Height of the airtanker at load release,
Dispatch - The implementation of a command
usually given in feet above tree top level.
decision to move a resource or resources from one
place to another.
Drop zone - target area for the release of the
airtanker's load.
Dispatch Centre - A facility from which resources
are assigned to an incident.
Distillation Phase
of
Drought - A period of relatively long duration with
substantially less than normal precipitation,
occurring usually over a wide area.
Combustion - Note
Combustion.
Drought Code - Note Canadian Forest Fire Weather
Division (ICS) - Divisions are used to divide an
Index System.
incident into geographical areas of operation. A
Division is located within the ICS organization
between the Branch and the Sector (if established)
or Task Force/Sector Leaders . (See Group.)
Divisions are identified by alphabetic characters
for horizontal applications and, often, by floor
numbers when used in buildings.
Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) - A
Glossary - 10 -
meteorological term referring to the rate of decrease
of temperature with height of a parcel of dry air
ascending in the atmosphere without mixing or heat
exchange. Numerically, the DALR is equal to about 1
degree Celsius per 100 metres (1?C/100 m) or 3
degrees Celsius per 1000 feet (3?C/1000 ft).
Conversely, dry air descending in the atmosphere
warms at the same rate. Note Atmospheric Stability.
fire until the first person charged with
initiating suppression action is notified of its
existence and location.
Dry Lightning Storm - A thunderstorm with
Get-Away Time - The period from receipt of
report of a fire by the first person responsible
for suppression until departure of the initial
attack force. Synonym - Response Time .
negligible precipitation reaching the ground.
Dry-bulb Temperature - Technically, the temperature
registered by the dry-bulb thermometer of a
psychrometer. However, it is identical to the
temperature of the air and may be used in that sense.
Recommended SI unit is degrees Celsius (?C).
Synonym - Air Temperature.
Travel Time - The period between departure
of the initial attack force for a fire and its
arrival at the fire.
Dry-bulb Thermometer - In a psychrometer, an
Response Time - The period from receipt of
first report of a fire to start of actual fire
fighting; includes both get-away and travel
time .
ordinary glass thermometer that has a dry bulb and
therefore directly measures the temperature of the
air.
Control Time - The period from initial attack
until the fire is controlled.
Duff - The layer of partially and fully decomposed
organic materials lying below the litter and
immediately above the mineral soil. It corresponds
to the fermentation (F) and humus (H) layers of the
forest floor . When moss is present, the top of the
duff is just below the green portion of the moss.
Mop-up Time - The period from achievement
of control until enough work has been done to
ensure the fire can not rekindle.
Patrol Time - The period from completion of
mop-up until the fire is declared out.
Duff Moisture Code - Note Canadian Forest Fire
Weather Index System.
Elapsed Time Standards - Maximum amounts of time
allowed by agency policy for given steps of fire
suppression.
Dummy run - a simulated bombing run made on a
target by the birddog aircraft to indicate target and
run to the airtanker. Note Inspection Run and Leadin.
Electrical Storm - See Thunderstorm.
Ember Transport - Note Heat Transfer.
Emergency Management Coordinator/Director
E
- The individual within each political subdivision
that has coordination responsibility for
jurisdictional emergency management.
Elapsed Time - The difference in time between the
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - A
health-care specialist with particular skills and
knowledge in pre-hospital emergency medicine.
beginning of any action and its actual
accomplishment; in fire fighting operations it is
customarily divided into:
Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) - A
Discovery Time - The period from start of a
fire (estimated or known) until the time of
discovery.
Report Time - The period from discovery of a
Glossary - 11 -
pre -designated facility established by an agency
or jurisdiction to coordinate the overall agency or
jurisdictional response and support to an
emergency.
Emergency Operations Plan - The plan that each
jurisdiction has and maintains for responding to
appropriate hazards.
Extra or Emergency Fire Fighter (EFF) Personnel other than regular employees or
seasonally employed crews, hired on a casual basis
for presuppression and suppression related work
activities.
Entrapment - Entrapment occurs when fire fighters are
in danger of being burned over.
Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) - The
Extreme Fire Behaviour - A level of fire behaviour
moisture content that a fuel element would attain if
exposed for an infinite period in an environment of
specified constant dry-bulb temperature and
relative humidity. When a fuel element has reached
its EMC, it neither gains nor loses moisture as long
as conditions remain constant.
that often precludes any fire suppression action. It
usually involves one or more of the following
characteristics: high rate of spread and frontal fire
intensity, crowning, prolific spotting, presence of
large fire whirls, and a well-established convection
column. Fires exhibiting such phenomena often
behave in an erratic, sometimes dangerous, manner.
Note Blowup, Conflagration, and Fire Storm.
Equipment Tracking - A system used by agencies to
maintain inventories of fire equipment both
internally and externally.
Escaped Fire - A wildfire (or prescribed fire that has
F
burned beyond its intended area) that remains out of
control following initial attack .
Escaped Fire Analysis - The process of deciding
what action to take on an escaped fire. This involves
a review and analysis of the threats to public safety,
values -at-risk, resource management objectives,
probable fire effect(s), existing fire load, present and
anticipated fire behaviour, availability of fire
suppression resources, probability of successful
control, and feasible fire suppression methods, to
minimize costs, and reduce fire damage(s) and/or
maximize the fire benefit(s). The decision may be to
maintain, increase, decrease, or discontinue the fire
suppression effort. Note Limited Action Fire.
Facilities Unit - Functional unit within the Support
Branch of the Logistics Section that provides
fixed facilities for the incident. These facilities may
include the Incident Base, feeding areas, sleeping
areas, sanitary facilities, etc.
False Smoke - Note Smoke (2).
Feller - An individual who is qualified to fell.
Field Operations Guide - A pocket-size manual of
Event - A planned, non-emergency activity. ICS can
be used as the management system for a wide
range of events, e.g., parades, concerts, or
sporting events
instructions on the application of the Incident
Command System.
Final Run - A live fire bombing run where the pilot
intends to drop the load.
Excursion - An unplanned but acceptable enlargement
of the area intended to be treated with prescribed
fire which does not greatly affect any off-sites
values -at-risk and involves a minimum of
suppression effort. Note Escaped Fire and Flare-up.
Finance/Administration Section - The Section
responsible for all incident costs and financial
considerations. Includes the Time Unit,
Procurement Unit, Compensation/Claims Unit,
and Cost Unit.
Extended Fire Severity - Aggregated fire severity for
an ongoing multiple, long-lasting, or expansive fire
situation within an operational planning horizon (e.g.
one month).
Fine Fuel Moisture Code - Note Canadian Forest
Glossary - 12 -
Fire Weather Index System.
fire perimeter and result in spot fires. Note
Solid Mass or Ember Transport under Heat
Transfer.
Fine Fuels - Fuels that ignite readily and are consumed
rapidly by fire (e.g. cured grass, fallen leaves,
needles, small twigs). Dead fine fuels also dry very
quickly. Synonym - Flash Fuels. Note Medium Fuels
and Heavy Fuels.
Crowning - A fire ascending into the crowns
of trees and spreading from crown to crown.
Note the three classes of Crown Fire under
Forest Fire (1).
Finger(s) of a Fire - Note Forest Fire (2).
Fire (1)
(2)
Simultaneous release of heat, light, and flame,
generated by the combustion of flammable
material.
Note Forest Fire (1).
Fire Behaviour Officer - A specialist position under
the plans function of a fire overhead team (assigned
to a campaign fire) responsible for making
predictions of probable fire behaviour based on an
analysis of the current and forecasted state of the
fire environment.
In a wider sense, any outbreak of fire.
Note Forest Fire and Wildfire.
Fire Analysis - Review of fire management actions
taken with respect to a specific fire, group of fires, or
fire season in order to identify reasons for effective
and ineffective actions and to recommend or
prescribe ways and means of doing a more efficient
job.
Fire Behaviour Triangle - An instructional aid in
which the sides of an equilateral triangle represent
the three interacting components of the fire
environment that are responsible for fire behaviour
(i.e. fire weather, fuels, and topography). Synonym Fire Environment Triangle. Note Fire Triangle.
Fire Atlas - An ordered collection of fire maps, charts,
and statistics used as a basis for fire management
planning.
Fire Benefit(s) - Any effect(s) of fire that are
favourable or beneficial in terms of the attainment of
forest management and other land use objectives.
Note Fire Damage(s), Fire Effect(s), and Fire
Impact(s).
Fire Behaviour - The manner in which fuel ignites,
flame develops, and fire spreads and exhibits other
related phenomena as determined by the interaction
of fuels, we ather, and topography. Some common
terms used to describe fire behaviour include the
following:
Smouldering - A fire burning without flame
and barely spreading.
Fire Bombing - An air attack operation involving the
use of aircraft to drop suppressants or retardants to
suppress or retard the spread of forest fires. Note
Water Bombing.
Fire Boss - Note Fire Overhead. See Incident
Commander
Creeping - A fire spreading slowly over the
ground, generally with a low flame.
Firebrand - A piece of flaming or smouldering material
capable of acting as an ignition source.
Running - A fire rapidly spreading and with a
well-defined head.
Torch or Torching - A single tree or a small
clump of trees is said to "torch" when its
foliage ignites and flares up, usually from
bottom to top. Synonym - Candle or Candling.
Firebreak - See Fuelbreak.
Fire Bust - See Multiple Fire Situation.
Fire Cause Class - The assignment of a wildfire to a
Spotting - A fire producing firebrands carried
by the surface wind, a fire whirl, and/or
convection column that fall beyond the main
Glossary - 13 -
category according to the causative agent
responsible for starting the fire. The following
classifications, adopted in 1980, are used for
reporting national wildfire statistics:
training or instructions in giving such services. See
Cooperating Agency
Lightning - A wildfire caused directly or
indirectly by lightning.
Fire Crew - See Suppression Crew.
Recreation - A wildfire caused by people or
equipment engaged in a recreational activity
(e.g. vacationing, fishing, picnicking, noncommercial berry picking, hiking).
Resident - A wildfire resulting from activity
performed by people or machines for the
purpose of agriculture or an accidental fire
caused by activity associated with normal
living in a forested area.
Forest Industry - A wildfire caused by people
or machines engaged in any activity
associated with forest products production.
Other Industry - A wildfire caused by
industrial operations other than forest
industry or railroads. Includes municipal,
provincial, or federal works projects whether
employees, agents, or contractors.
Fire Cycle - The number of years required to burn over
an area equal to the entire area of interest. Note Fire
Frequency and Fire Interval.
Fire Damage(s) - Any effect(s) of fire that are
detrimental or damaging in terms of the attainment of
forest management and other land use objectives.
Note Fire Benefit(s), Fire Effect(s), and Fire
Impact(s).
Fire Danger - A general term used to express an
assessment of both fixed and variable factors of the
fire environment that determine the ease of ignition,
rate of spread, difficulty of control, and fire impact.
Note Fire Hazard, Fire Risk, and Burning
Conditions.
Fire Danger Class - A segment of a fire danger index
scale identified by a descriptive term (e.g. Nil or Very
Low, Low, Moderate, High, Very High, or Extreme),
numerical value (e.g. I, II, III, IV, or V), and/or a
colour code (e.g. green, blue, yellow, orange, or red).
The classification system may be based on more
than one fire danger index (e.g. the Buildup Index is
sometimes used in addition to the Fire Weather
Index).
Railroads - A wildfire caused by any machine,
employee, agent, or contractor performing
work associated with a railway operation, or a
passenger on a train.
Incendiary - A wildfire willfully started for the
purpose of mischief, grudge, or gain.
Miscellaneous - A wildfire of known cause
that cannot be properly classified under any of
the other standard classes listed above.
Fire Danger Index - A quantitative indicator of one
of more facets of fire danger, expressed either in a
relative sense or as an absolute measure; often used
as a guide in a variety of fire management activities
(e.g. to judge day-to-day preparedness and
suppression requirements, as a basis for providing
information on fire danger to the general public in
fire prevention, as an aid to prescribed burning).
Fire Climate - The composite pattern or integration
over time of the fire weather elements that affect
fire occurrence and fire behaviour in a given area.
Fire Control - See Fire Suppression.
Fire Danger Rating - The process of systematically
evaluating and integrating the individual and
combined factors influencing fire danger
represented in the form of fire danger indexes.
Fire Control Line - Note Control Line.
Fire Control Plan - See Fire Suppression Plan.
Fire Cooperator - A local person or agency, outside
Fire Dependent Ecosystems - An ecosystem can be
the fire management organization, who has agreed
in advance to perform fire management services
(e.g. prevention, detection, collection of fire weather
data, suppression) and who has received prior
Glossary - 14 -
considered "fire dependent" if periodic fire is
essential for maintaining the character, diversity and
vig our of the intrinsic plant and animal communities.
Note Fire Regime.
occur per unit time at a given point. Note Fire Cycle,
Fire Incidence, and Fire Interval .
Fire Detection - A system for or the act of
discovering, locating, and reporting wildfires.
Fire Front - The strip of primarily flaming combustion
along the fire perimeter; a particularly active fire
edge. Fine fuels typically produce a narrow fire
front, whereas dry heavy fuels produce a wider zone
or band of flames. Synonym - Flaming Front. Note
Flame Depth.
Fire Ecology - The study of the relationships between
fire, the physical environment, and living organisms.
Fire Edge - Any part of the boundary of a going fire at
any given moment. May apply to any portion of the
fire perimeter as distinct from the different
segments defined under forest fire (2). The entire
boundary is termed the fire perimeter.
Fireguard - A strategically planned barrier, either
manually or mechanically constructed, intended to
stop or retard the rate of spread of a fire, and from
which suppression action is carried out to control a
fire. The constructed portion of a control line. Note
Fireline and Fuelbreak.
Fire Effect(s) - Any change(s) on an area attributable
to a fire, whether immediate or long-term, and on-site
or off-site. May be detrimental, beneficial, or benign
from the standpoint of forest management and other
land use objectives. Note Fire Benefi t(s), Fire
Damage(s), and Fire Impact(s).
Fire Hazard - A general term to describe the potential
fire behaviour, without regard to the state of
weather-influenced fuel moisture content, and/or
resistance to fireguard construction for a given fuel
type. This may be expressed in either the absolute
(e.g. "cured grass is a fire hazard") or comparative
(e.g. "clear-cut logging slash is a greater fire hazard
than a deciduous cover type") sense. Such an
assessment is based on physical fuel characteristics
(e.g. fuel arrangement, fuel load, condition of
herbaceous vegetation, presence of ladder fuels).
Note Fire Danger and Fire Risk.
Fire Effects Value Appraisal - Determination of the
net gains or losses resulting directly or indirectly
from forest fires, expressed in monetary or other
terms, based on a systematic assessment of fire
benefit(s) and fire damage(s). Note Damage
Appraisal.
Fire Environment - The surrounding conditions,
influences, and modifying forces of topography,
fuel, and fire weather that determine fire behaviour.
Fire History - The study and/or compilation of
evidence (e.g. historical documents, fire reports,
fire scars, tree growth rings, charcoal deposits) that
records the occurrence and effects of past wildfires
for an area. Note Fire Cycle, Fire Frequency, Fire
Incidence, Fire Interval, and Fire Occurrence.
Fire Environment Triangle - See Fire Behaviour
Triangle.
Fire Equipment Cache - A supply of fire fighting
tools and equipment in planned quantities or
standard units at a strategic point for exclusive use
in fire suppression. Synonym - Fire Tool Cache or
Tool Cache.
Fire Impact(s) - The immediately evident effect of fire
on the ecosystem in terms of biophysical alterations
(e.g. crown scorch, mineral soil exposure, depth of
burn, fuel consumption). Note Fire Benefit(s), Fire
Damage(s), and Fire Effect(s).
Fire Finder - A device or instrument used to determine
the horizontal bearing and sometimes the vertical
angle of a fire from a lookout.
Fire Incidence - The average number of fires started
in a designated area during a specified time. Note
Fire Frequency and Fire Occurrence.
Fire Finder Map - A map situated on a fire finder and
used to establish the location of forest fires from a
lookout.
Fire Foreman - See Fire Boss under Fire Overhead.
Fire Intensity - Note Frontal Fire Intensity.
Fire Interval - The average number of years between
Fire Frequency - The average number of fires that
Glossary - 15 -
the occurrence of fires at a given point. Note Fire
Cycle and Fire Frequency.
environment, fire suppression resources, fire
occurrences, values -at-risk, etc. in support of
planning and daily operational decision making with
respect to wildfires and prescribed fires.
Fireline (1)
(2)
That portion of the fire upon which resources
are deployed ad are actively engaged in
suppression action. In a general sense, the
working area around a fire. Note Control Line
and Fireguard.
Fire Management Plan - A statement of policy and
prescribed actions with respect to forest fires
(prescribed fires and wildfires) for a specific area
(may include maps, charts, and statistical data). Note
Fire Suppression Plan and Preattack Plan.
Any cleared strip used to control a fire.
Loosely synonymous with fireguard.
Fire Management Planning - The systematic,
Fireline Camp - See Line Camp.
class and frontal fire intensity) of all fires requiring
suppression action during a given period within a
specified area.
technological, and administrative management
process of determining the organization, facilities,
resources, and procedures required to protect
people, property, and forest areas from fire and to
use fire to accomplish forest management and other
land use objectives.
Fire Logistics - The assembly, organization, and
Fire Occurrence - The number of fires started in a
movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies to
and from fires.
given area over a given period of time. Note Fire
Frequency and Fire Incidence.
Fire Management - The activities concerned with the
Fire Overhead - A collective term for all fire
protection of people, property, and forest areas from
wildfire and the use of prescribed burning for the
attainment of forest management and other land use
objectives, all conducted in a manner that considers
environmental, social, and economic criteria.
Note: Fire management represents both a land
management philosophy and a land
management activity. It involves the
strategic integration of such factors as
knowledge of fire regimes , probable fire
effects, values -at-risk, level of forest
protection required, cost of fire-related
activities, and prescribed fire technology
into multiple-use planning, decision
making, and day-to-day activities to
accomplish stated resource management
objectives. Successful fire management
depends on effective fire prevention,
detection, and presuppression, having an
adequate fire suppression capability, and
consideration of fire ecology relationships.
supervisory positions. The following is a summary
of the key fireline positions used in the old
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre's National
Fire Command System See - Incident Command
System. (Some agencies use a slightly different fire
overhead organization or use synonymous terms for
some positions). Note that specialist and support
positions have not been defined; instead, general
descriptions of the main support functions are
given.
Fire Load - The number and magnitude (i.e. fire size
Fire Boss - The person responsible and
accountable for conducting all direct
suppression
and
logistical
activities
consistent with an agency policy, given fire, or
zone of fires. Depending on the size of the fire
and the complexity of operations the fire boss
may carry out all duties directly or may assign
line and staff duties to subordinates.
Synonyms - Fire Foreman and (in British
Columbia) Fire Superintendent. See Incident
Commander
Fire Management Decision Support System - A
generic term for the various systems used by fire
management agencies in Canada that employ
computer software designed to facilitate the storage,
compilation, analysis and display of fire intelligence
data and other related information on the fire
Glossary - 16 -
Suppression Boss - The person responsible to
the fire boss for supervising, directing, and
auditing the suppression effort on the entire
fireline. Synonyms - Line Boss and Line
Foreman. See Operations Section Chief
Fire Post Mortem - See Board of Review.
Division Boss - A person responsible to the
fire boss or suppression boss, depending
upon the degree of organization required, for
the conduct of all suppression work on a
division. Supervises two or more sector
bosses . Synonym - Division Foreman. See
Division/Group Supervisor
Sector Boss - A first line supervisor
responsible and accountable to a division
boss, suppression boss, or fire boss,
depending upon the degree of organization
required, for directing and controlling the total
suppression effort on one sector of a fire.
Generally supervises two or more crew bosses.
See Sector Leader, Task Force Leader
Crew Boss - A person responsible to a sector
boss or fire boss, depending upon the degree
of organization required, for the supervision of
fire fighting crews on the fireline. Synonym Crew Foreman. See Leader
Plans Function - The part of the fire
suppression organization (reporting to the fire
boss) that is responsible for gathering,
compiling, and recording all fire intelligence
information required to formulate the daily fire
suppression action plan. See Planning
Section
Service Function - The part of the fire
suppression organization (reporting to the fire
boss) that is responsible for the procurement,
maintenance, and distribution of personnel,
equipment, and supplies at the time and place
called for in the fire suppression action plan.
May involve record keeping, accounting,
provision of food and lodging, safety and
first-aid, and transportation. See Logistics
Section
Fire Presuppression - Note Presuppression.
Fire Prevention - Activities directed at reducing fire
occurrence; includes public education, law
enforcement, personal contact, and reduction of fire
hazards and risks.
Fire Progress Map - A map maintained to show at
given times the location of the fire perimeter and
spot fires, deployment of fire fighting forces, and
fire suppression activities (e.g. constructed
fireguard).
Fireproofing - A procedure aimed at reducing the
flammability of fuels. Note - Hazard Reduction.
Fire Protection Plan - See Fire Suppression Plan.
Fire Pump - An engine driven pump, usually gasoline
powered, specifically designed for use in fire
suppression. Synonym - Power Pump.
Fire Rake - Note Tools , Hand, Fire.
Fire Regime - The kind of fire activity or pattern of
fires that generally characterize a given area. Some
important elements of the characteristic pattern
include fire cycle or fire interval , fire season, and
the number, type, and intensity of fires.
Fire Report - An official report of a fire, generally
including information on cause, location, action
taken, damage, and costs from start of the fire until
completion of suppression action. The report is
usually accompanied by a map of the burn. These
reports vary in form and detail from agency to
agency.
Fire Retardant - A substance that by chemical or
physical action reduces flammability of
combustibles. Note Long-term and Short-term
Retardant.
Fire Perimeter - The entire outer edge boundary of a
fire. Recommended SI units are metres (m) or
kilometres (km) (1000 m is equivalent to 1.0 km). Note
Fire Edge.
Fire Risk Occurrence - The probability or chance of
Fire Plow - A heavy duty plough of either the share of
disc type, designed solely for constructing
fireguards or fuelbreaks.
Glossary - 17 -
fire starting determined by the presence and
activities of causative agents (i.e. potential number
of ignition sources). Note Fire Danger and Fire
Hazard.
nutrients, increase in peak water run-off, soil
erosion, decreased water quality, etc.
Fire Run - A term normally associated with the rapid
advance of a wildfire characterized by a marked
increase in rate of spread and a corresponding
increase in frontal fire intensity with respect to that
noted before and following the event.
Society - Social change such as injuries and
fatalities, extent of damages to homes and
improved property, net resources value
changes, losses due to activity interruptions,
etc.
Fire Scar (1)
An injury or wound on a tree caused or
accentuated by fire.
(2)
A scar on the landscape made by fire.
(Somewhat archaic).
Fire Shovel - Note Tools, Hand, Fire.
Fire Simulator - A training device that imposes
simulated fire and smoke and depictions of fire
suppression measures on a projected landscape
scene to instruct fire management personnel in
different fire situations and fire suppression
techniques.
Fire Scouting - Reconnaissance of a fire and its
surroundings by any means to obtain fire
intelligence information.
Fire Season - The period(s) of the year during which
fires are likely to start, spread, and do damage to
values -at-risk sufficient to warrant organized fire
suppression; a period of the year set out and
commonly referred to in fire prevention legislation.
The fire season is usually further divided on the
basis of the seasonal flammability of fuel types (e.g.
spring, summer, and fall).
Fire Situation Map - A map used by fire
management personnel to locate and plot wildfires
reported, burning, and out.
Fire Size Class - The assignment of a wildfire to a
Fire Severity - A general term most commonly
describe the combined affects of both flaming
combustion and smouldering combustion on either
a wildfire or prescribed fire site as manifested in
various fire behaviour characteristics (e.g. fire
intensity, flame height and length, residence and
burn-out times, etc.); this is quite inferred after-thefact from the fire impact(s).
Fire Severity Measures Atmosphere - Smoke emissions such as
quantities of particulate, toxic gasses,
greenhouse gasses, visual impairment, etc.
Ecosystems (flora and fauna) - Disturbance
characteristics such as percent of plants killed,
effects on soil organisms, post-fire
regeneration, fire return period, etc.
Fire Management - Fire business such as
supplemental
resource
requirements,
mobilization logistics, organizational workload,
emergency budget supplements, etc.
Geosystems (soil and water) - Off-site
movement of material such as loss of soil
Glossary - 18 -
category according to its size (i.e. from the smallest
fire to a very large fire). Recommended SI unit is
hectares (ha). The following classification, adopted
in 1986, is used for reporting national wildfire
statistics:
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Letter
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Area (ha)
up to 0.1
0.11 - 1.0
1.1 - 10
10.1 - 100
100.1 - 1000
1000.1 - 10 000
10 000.1 - 100 000
over 100 000
Either the number or letter can be used to designate
a fire size class. Prior to the adoption of the above
classes, the following classifications were used; in
some cases the conversion from acres (ac) to
hectares (ha) was not exact:
Letter
A
B
C
D
E
Area (ac)
up to 0.25
0.26 - 10.0
10.1 - 100.0
100.1 - 500.0
over 500
Area (ha)
up to 0.09
0.1 - 4.0
4.1 - 40.0
40.1 - 200.0
over 200
Fire Squad - See Suppression Crew.
Fire Suppression Plan - A document containing the
essential elements of actions necessary to save
human life and property, and minimize fire
damage(s). May apply to an overall fire suppression
program for a broad area but most often if is for sitespecific situations. Synonyms - Fire Control Plan
and Fire Protection Plan. Note Fire Management
Plan and Preattack Plan.
Fire Storm - A large continuous area of intense
burning characterized by violent fire -induced
convection resulting in gale-force indraft surface
winds near and beyond the fire perimeter, a
towering convection column, and the occurrence of
large fire whirls. Note Conflagration and Extreme
Fire Behaviour.
Fire Tool Cache - See Fire Equipment Cache.
Fire Superintendent - See Fire Boss under Fire
Fire Tower - See Lookout Tower.
Overhead.
Fire Suppression - All activities concerned with
Fire Triangle - An instructional aid in which the sides
controlling and extinguishing a fire following its
detection. Synonym - Fire Control. Note Control a
Fire.
of an equilateral triangle represent the three factors
necessary for combustion and flame production (i.e.
oxygen, heat, and fuel). When any one of these
factors is removed, flame production is not possible
or ceases.
Methods of suppression are:
Direct Attack - A method whereby the fire is
attacked immediately adjacent to the burning
fuel.
Parallel Attack - A method whereby a
fireguard is constructed as close to the fire as
heat and flame permit, and burning out the fuel
between the fire and the fireguard.
Indirect Attack - A method whereby the
control line is strategically located to take
advantage of favourable terrain and natural
breaks in advance of the fire perimeter and
the intervening strip is usually burned out or
backfired.
Fire Type - A particular cover type that commonly
follows or is otherwise dependent on fire.
Fire Use - See Prescribed Burning.
Fire Weather - Collectively, those weather parameters
that influence fire occurrence and subsequent fire
behaviour (e.g. dry-bulb temperature, relative
humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation,
atmospheric stability, winds aloft).
Fire Weather Forecast - A prediction of the future
state of the atmosphere prepared specifically to meet
the needs of fire management in fire suppression
and prescribed burning operations. Two types of
forecasts are most common: The zone or area
weather forecast is issued on a regular basis during
the fire season for a particular geographical region
and/or one or more fire weather stations. These
regions are delineated on the basis of fire climate
and/or administrative considerations. A spot
weather forecast is issued to fit the time,
topography, and weather of a specific campaign fire
location or prescribed fire site. These forecasts are
issued on request and are more detailed, timely, and
specific than zone or area weather forecasts.
Hot Spotting - A method to check the spread
and intensity of a fire at those points that
exhibit the mo st rapid spread or that otherwise
pose some special threat to control of the
situation. This is in contrast to systematically
working all parts of the fire at the same time, or
progressively, in a step-by-step manner.
Cold Trailing - A method of determining
whether or not a fire is still burning, involving
careful inspection and feeling with the hand,
or by use of a hand-held infrared scanner, to
detect any heat source.
Fire Weather Index - Note Canadian Forest Fire
Weather Index System.
Mop-up - The act of extinguishing a fire after it
has been brought under control.
Fire Weather Station - A meteorological station
Glossary - 19 -
equipped to measure fire weather elements. A
primary weather station is one at which sufficient
weather observations are taken to compute fire
danger indexes. A secondary weather station does
not provide this level of information, but rather
provides supplementary data on weather conditions.
Note Remote Automatic Weather Station.
Flank Fire Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
Flanks of a Fire - Note Forest Fire (2).
Flareup - A sudden, localized increase in frontal fire
intensity within or along the fire perimeter
requiring a temporary adjustment in suppression
action in order to avoid a possible blowup condition.
Unlike a blowup, a flareup is of relatively short
duration and does not radically change existing
control plans.
Fire Weather Station Network - A grid of
specifically designated weather observation sites
from which operational fire weather data are
collected on a daily basis.
Fire Whirl or Fire Whirlwind - A spinning, moving
column of hot air and gases rising up from a fire and
carrying aloft smoke, debris, flame and firebrands .
These range from less than one metre to several
hundred metres in diameter. They may involve the
entire fire area or only hot spots within or outside the
fire perimeter.
Flash Fuels - See Fine Fuels.
Flash-over - The rapid combustion and/or explosion of
trapped, unburned gases; usually occurs in poorly
ventilated areas. The flash-over phenomenon is
normally associated with structural or urban fires.
However, it can occur in forest fires (although rare)
when gases are trapped in topographic pockets or
accumulate over a broad area when there is a
temporary lull in air movement.
Flame Angle - The angle formed between the flame at
the fire front and the ground surface, expressed in
degrees.
Flame Depth - The width of the zone within which
continuous flaming occurs behind the edge of a fire
front. Recommended SI unit is metres (m).
Flame Height - The average maximum vertical
F.L.I.R.
Forward Looking Infrared Scanner. See Infrared
Scanner
Foam - The collection of a mass of bubbles which are
extension of flames at the fire front; occasional
flashes that rise above the general level of flames are
not considered. Recommended SI unit is metres (m).
Flame Length - The length of flames measured along
their axis at the fire front; the distance between the
flame height tip and the midpoint of the flame depth
at the ground surface. Flame length is an
approximate indicator of frontal fire intensity.
Recommended SI unit is metres (m).
Flaming Combustion - Note Combustion.
formed by forcing air into a solution of water and
foam concentrate by means of suitably designed
equipment or by cascading it through the air at a
high velocity.
Common terms and definitions associated with foam
include Aspirate - To draw in air by suction. The
aspirating nozzle draws air into the nozzle to
mix with foam solution.
Aspirating Nozzle - A foam generating device
that mixes air at atmospheric pressure with
foam solution in a nozzle chamber.
Flaming Front - See Fire Front.
Flammability - The relative ease with which a
substance ignites and sustains combustion.
Flank Fire - A fire spreading, or set to spread, at
roughly right angles to the prevailing wind direction.
Note Backfire and Head Fire.
Glossary - 20 -
Batch Mix (Batching) - Manually adding one
ingredient to another to develop the final
product. Batching can involve a powder and a
liquid or two liquids. For foams it is the
process of manually pouring foam concentrate
into water to make a foam solution. Foam is
produced when the solution is pumped down
a hose and out an aspirating nozzle. For fire
retardants it is the process of adding powder
to a measured amount of water and
mechanically agitating it to produce fire
retardant.
Batch Mixer - The container in which
batching is done. In retardant mixing
operations, it is a tank, usually 1,000 gallons in
which powdered retardant and water are mixed
together by mechanical means to produce the
final product.
Class A Foam - Foam intended for use on
woody fuels. Made from hydrocarbon-based
surfactants possessing excellent wetting
properties and is biodegradable.
Class B Foam - Foam designed for use on
flammable liquid fires.
Combination Nozzle - Also called an
"adjustable fog nozzle". Used for applying
water, wet water, or foam solution as either a
solid stream or a fixed spray pattern.
Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) - A
foam system which combines air under
pressure with foam solution to create foam in
the hose.
"Dripping" Foam - Characteristics: The
bubbles of "DRIPPING" foams are mostly
spherical. There is less separation of bubbles
by the solution than wet foam. Some of the
bubbles walls may be touching. Dripping
foams have medium to fast drainage rates.
Synonym - Fluid Foam.
Dry Foam - Characteristics: The bubbles of
"dry" foams are polyhedral in shape. The
bubble walls are very thin with only small
amounts of solution between the bubbles.
These types of foams have very slow drainage
rates.
Eductor - A proportioning device using
vacuum created by a liquid moving through a
hose line to draw another liquid into the
stream. In foam operations, foam concentrate
is educted into the main water stream through
Glossary - 21 -
a venturi. The venturi create a vacuum in the
water stream causing foam concentrate to be
drawn into the stream. Educting can take place
on the suction or discharge side of the pump.
When using an eductor, mixing takes place
either when the solution passes through the
pump or in the turbulence as the solution
travels down the hose line.
Foam Blanket - A layer of foam which forms
an insulating and reflective barrier from heat
and is used for fuel protection and property.
Foam Concentrate - The concentrated foaming
agent as received from the manufacturer,
containing a surfactant, corrosion inhibitor,
and stabilizers.
Foam Generation - The transformation of a
foam solution into foam by the addition of air
to the solution.
Foam Solution - A homogeneous mixture of
water and foam concentrate to which air is
added to produce foam. Characteristics: Foam
"SOLUTION" has no real bubble structure but
some bubble formation may occur due to
agitation and impact.
Low Expansion - Foam having an expansion
between 1:1 and 20:1.
Medium Expansion - Foam having an
expansion between 21:1 and 200:1.
Mix Ratio - The ratio of foam or retardant
concentrate to water. Foam expressed in
percent. Retardant expressed in ratio.
Proportioner - A device that adds a
predetermined amount of liquid foam or
retardant concentrate to water to form a
solution.
Surface Tension - The elastic-like force at the
surface of a liquid, which tends to minimize the
surface area, causing drops to form.
Wet Foam - Characteristics: The bubbles of
"wet" foams are spherical masses of air which
are enclosed on solution. The bubble walls are
separated by a large amount of solution,
relative to other types of foams. Wet foams
have very fast drainage rates.
Synonym - Running Crown Fire.
(2)
The anatomical parts of a forest fire are:
Follow Up - The act of supporting or increasing the
Bay(s) - A marked indentation(s) in the fire
perimeter, usually located between two
fingers. Synonym - Pocket(s).
efforts of initial attack forces by increasing
suppression resources and commitment to control.
Food Unit - Functional unit within the Service
Finger(s) - An elongated burned area(s)
projecting from the main body of the fire
resulting in an irregular fire perimeter.
Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for
providing meals for incident personnel.
Forest Closure - An official order by a designated
Flanks - Those portions of the fire perimeter
that are between the head and the back of the
fire which are roughly parallel to the main
direction of spread. Synonym - Sides.
authority to close a specified forest area. Usually
provided for in fire prevention legislation. Note
Closed Area.
Forest Fire - Any wildfire or prescribed fire that is
Head - That portion of the fire perimeter
having the greatest rate of spread and frontal
fire intensity which is generally on the
downwind and/or upslope part of the fire.
Synonym - Front.
burning in forested areas, grass, or alpine/tundra
vegetation.
(1)
The main types of forest fire are:
Ground Fire - A fire that burns in the ground
fuel layer. Synonym - Subsurface Fire.
Back - That portion of the fire perimeter
opposite the head; the slowest spreading part
of the fire. Synonyms - Base, Heel, and Rear.
Surface Fire - A fire that burns in the surface
fuel layer, excluding the crowns of the trees,
as either a head fire, flank fire, or backfire.
Island(s) - An area(s) of unburned fuels
located within the fire perimeter.
Crown Fire - A fire that advances through the
crown fuel layer, usually in conjunction with
the surface fire. Crown fires can be classified
according to the degree of dependence on the
surface fire phase:
(i)
Intermittent Crown Fire - A fire in which
trees discontinuously torch, but rate of
spread is controlled by the surface fire
phase. Synonym - Passive Crown Fire.
(ii) Active Crown Fire - A fire that advances
with a well-defined wall of flame extending
from the ground surface to above the
crown fuel layer. Probably most crown
fires are of this class. Development of an
active crown fire requires a substantial
surface fire, and thereafter the surface
and crown phases spread as a linked unit.
Synonym - Dependent Crown Fire.
Point(s) of Origin - The location(s) within the
fire perimeter where ignition(s) first occurred.
Synonym - Origin(s) of a Fire.
Note Spot Fire (1).
Forest Fire Management - Note Fire Management.
Forest Floor - The organic surface component of the
soil supporting forest vegetation; the combined duff
(if present) and litter layers.
Forest Industry Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
Forest Protection - That branch of forestry concerned
with the prevention and control of damage to forests
from fire, insects, disease, and other harmful agents.
Forwarder Unit
(1)
(iii) Independent Crown Fire - A fire that
advances in the crown fuel layer only.
Glossary - 22 -
A self-contained unit consisting of a water
tank, fire pump, and hose specially designed
to be carried on a logging forwarder for use in
fire suppression.
(2)
A box to hold fire fighting tools and
equipment specially designed to be carried on
a logging forwarder.
(3)
The term usually applies to the special
attachments, but it may also refer to the
attachments and logging forwarder together.
Note Skidder Unit.
vegetation has been modified or cleared, that act as
a buffer to fire spread so that fires burning into them
can be more readily controlled. Often selected or
constructed to protect a high value area from fire. In
the event of fire, may serve as a control line from
which to carry out suppression operations.
Synonym - Firebreak . Also note Control Line and
Fireguard.
Fuel Bulk Density - The dry weight of combustible
materials per unit volume. Numerically, it is equal to
fuel load divided by the depth of the particular fuel
layer (e.g. duff, tree crown foliage). Recommended SI
units are grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm3) and
kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3) (0.1 g/cm3 is
equivalent to 100 kg/m3).
Free-burning - A general term to describe the
condition of a fire or portion of a fire perimeter that
is unaffected by natural or man-made barriers to fire
growth and/or any suppression measures taken.
Front - In meteorology, the boundary between two air
masses of different density. A cold front represents
the leading edge of colder air replacing warmer air;
the reverse of this is a warm front.
Fuel Complex - See Fuel Type.
Fuel Description - A description of the fuel properties
that are important for assessing potential fire
behaviour (e.g. fuel arrangement, fuel load, fuel
moisture content). Note Fuel Appraisal.
Frontal Fire Intensity - The rate of heat energy
release per unit time per unit length of fire front.
Flame size is its main visual manifestation. Frontal
fire intensity is a major determinant of certain fire
effects and difficulty of control. Numerically, it is
equal to the product of the net heat of combustion,
quantity of fuel consumed in the flaming front, and
linear rate of spread. Recommended SI unit is
kilowatts per metre (kW/m). Synonyms - Byram's
Fireline Intensity (used mainly in the United States)
and Line-fire Intensity. Note Flame Length.
Fuel Load - The dry wight of combustible materials per
unit area. Recommended SI units are kilograms per
square metre (kg/m2) and tonnes per hectare (t/ha)
(1.0 kg/m2 is equivalent to 10 t/ha).
Fuel Management - The planned manipulation and/or
reduction of living or dead forest fuels for forest
management and other land use objectives (e.g.
hazard reduction, silvicultural purposes, wildlife
habitat improvement) by: prescribed fire;
mechanical, chemical, or biological means; and/or
changing stand structure and species composition.
Note Slash Disposal .
Front of a Fire - See Head of a Fire under Forest Fire
(2).
Fuel Appraisal - The process of first describing the
fuel type characteristics and secondly interpreting
the fuel description in terms of potential fire
behaviour on the basis of past experience,
comparative methods and mathematical models (e.g.
Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour Prediction
System).
Fuel Moisture Content - The amount of water
present in fuel generally expressed as a percentage
of the substance's weight when thoroughly dried at
100 degrees Celsius (?C).
Fuel Moisture Sticks - A specially prepared wooden
Fuel Arrangement - A general term referring to the
horizontal and vertical distribution of all combustible
materials within a particular fuel type .
Fuelbreak - An existing barrier or change in fuel type
(to one that is less flammable than that surrounding
it), or a wide strip of land on which the native
Glossary - 23 -
device of known dry weight that when periodically
weighed, after being continuously exposed to the
weather elements, indicates changes in the moisture
status and relative flammability of certain dead
fuels. (In British Columbia, a standard set of fuel
moisture sticks consists of four pieces of small
diameter Douglas-fir dowelling that have an oven-
dry weight of 100 grams (g); any weight in excess of
this represents the moisture content).
constellation of 24 high-orbiting satellites that
provides (depending on the receiver used) three
dimensional positioning (latitude, longitude,
altitude), velocity, track, and time transfer
information worldwide.
Fuel Treatment - See Hazard Reduction.
Fuel Type - An identifiable association of fuel
elements of distinctive species, form, size,
arrangement, and continuity that will exhibit
characteristic fire behaviour under defined burning
conditions. Synonym - Fuel Complex.
Glowing Combustion - Note Combustion.
Going Fire - The state of a fire during the period
between its ignition and extinction.
Full Response Fire - A wildfire which requires
Green Up - The appropriate time during the first half of
immediate, aggressive initial attack and/or
sustained suppression action until the fire is
declared out.
the fire season in which hardwood trees and/or
understory vegetation (e.g. grasses, herbs, shrubs)
have more or less completed their flushing of new
growth. This typically takes place in late spring/early
summer. Note Condition of Herbaceous Vegetation.
Function - In ICS, function refers to the five major
activities in the ICS, i.e., Command, Operations,
Planning, Logistics, and Finance/Administration.
The term functions also used when describing the
activity involved, e.g., the planning function.
Ground Effect - Reaction of a helicopter's rotor
downwash against the ground surface forming a
"ground cushion" that increases the lifting
capability of that parcel of air.
Ground Fire - Note Forest Fire (1).
G
Ground Fuels - All combustible materials below the
litter layer of the forest floor that normally support
smouldering or glowing combustion associated with
ground fires (e.g. duff, roots, buried punky wood,
peat). Note Surface, Ladder, and Crown Fuels.
Gaseous Phase of Combustion - Note Combustion.
Ground Probe - A specialized nozzle used to penetrate
General Staff - The group of incident management
personnel reporting to the Incident Commander.
They may each have a deputy, as needed. The
General Staff consists of Operations Section
Chief, Planning Section Chief, Logistics Section
Chief, and Finance/Administration Section Chief
deep-seated combustible fuels to extinguish ground
fires.
Ground Support Unit - Functional unit within the
Support Branch of the Logistics Section
responsible for the fuelling, maintaining, and
repairing of vehicles, and the transportation of
personnel and supplies.
Generic ICS - Refers to the description of ICS that
is generally applicable to any kind of incident or
event.
Group - Groups are established to divide the incident
into functional areas of operation. Groups are
composed of resources assembled to perform a
special function not necessarily within a single
geographic division. (See Division.) Groups are
located between Branches (when activated) and
Resources in the Operations Section.
Geographic Information System (GIS) - A
computer software system (often including
hardware) with which spatial information may be
captured, stored, analyzed, displayed, and retrieved.
Get-Away Time - Note Elapsed Time.
Gutter Trench - A ditch dug to the mineral soil on a
Global Positioning System (GPS) - Employs a
Glossary - 24 -
slope below a fire to trap rolling firebrands , such as
cones and logs.
Note: In forest fires , the transmission of heat may
also take place by solid mass or ember
transport. This is the transfer of heat
resulting from firebrands being transported
ahead of a fire by the wind, by gravity (e.g.
rolling downhill), or being carried aloft in the
convection column or by a fire whirl (i.e.
spotting ).
H
Hazard Reduction - Treatment of living or dead forest
Heavy Fuels - Large diameter woody or deep organic
fuels to diminish the likelihood of a fire starting, and
to lessen the potential rate of spread and resistance
to control. Synonym - Fuel Treatment.
materials that are difficult to ignite and burn more
slowly than fine or medium fuels. Synonym Coarse Fuels.
Haze - Fire dust or particles in the atmosphere that
Heavy Helicopter - 15-plus passenger seats up to
diminish visibility. Note Smoke.
25,000 lbs. external load. (e.g. Bell 214, Sikorsky 61
and 64, Vertol 107 and 234, Kamov 32) Note Light
Helicopter, Intermediate Helicopter and Medium
Helicopter.
Head Fire - A fire spreading, or set to spread, with the
wind (upslope in the absence of wind). Note
Backfire and Flank Fire.
Heel of a Fire - See Back of a Fire under Forest Fire
(2).
Head Fire Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
Held Line - All control line that still contains the fire
Head of a Fire - Note Forest Fire (2).
when it is declare under control.
Heat of Combustion - The potential heat energy
available for release by the combustion process. In
frontal fire intensity calculations, the heat of
combustion value used is subject to several possible
reductions, chiefly because of the presence of
moisture in the fuel. A quantity is generally specified
for a particular fuel on a per unit weight basis.
Recommended SI unit is kilojoules per kilogram
(kJ/kg).
Helibase - The main location for parking, fuelling,
maintenance, and loading of helicopters operating
in support of an incident. It is usually located at or
near the incident base
Helibucket - A specially designed rigid or collapsible
container slung by a helicopter and used for picking
up and dropping suppressants or retardants on a
fire. Size of bucket load is compatible with the size of
helicopter.
Heat Transfer - The process by which heat is
imparted from one body or object to another. In
forest fires, heat energy is transmitted from burning
to unburned fuels by:
Convection - Transfer of heat by the
movement of masses of hot air; the natural
direction is upwards in the absence of any
appreciable wind speed and/or slope.
Helicopter Sounding - Determination of the vertical
temperature profile based on observations of a
helicopter's free-air thermometer and corresponding
altimeter readings. Note Minisonde, Rawinsonde
Observations.
Helipad - The prepared surface or structure at a
heliport where a helicopter actually lands.
Radiation - Transfer of heat in straight lines
from warm surfaces to cooler surroundings.
Heliport - A permanent landing area for helicopters,
Conduction - Transfer of heat through solid
matter.
Glossary - 25 -
where fuel, service, and supply are generally
available.
Percolating Hose - Fire hose with wetting or
soaking characteristics which allow the hose
material to become saturated with the water
when conveying water to help prevent it from
burning.
Helispot - Any designated location where a
helicopter can safely take off and land. Some
helispots may be used for loading of supplies,
equipment, or personnel.
Helitack - Initial attack on wildfires involving the use
Suction Hose - A hose, reinforced to prevent
collapse due to pressure, used to draft water
into a fire pump.
of helicopters and trained crews, deployed as a
complete unit.
Helitack Crew - An initial attack crew specially
trained in the tactical and logistical use of
helicopters for fire suppression.
Hose Friction Loss - Reduction in efficiency of a fire
hose (the amount of water pressure lost) due to the
resistance between the inside wall of the hose and
the water flowing through the hose. The factors
affecting friction loss are the velocity of the water
through the hose, the roughness of the inner lining
of the hose, and the diameter of the hose.
Helitank - A specially designed tank fitted to a
helicopter and used for transporting and dropping
suppressants or retardants.
Helitanker - A helicopter equipped with a helitank or
a bucket. Note Airtanker
Hose Key - A special tool for tightening or loosening
external-lug threaded hose couplings and accessory
connections.
Helitorch - A specialized aerial drip torch, primarily
using a gelled fuel, slung and activated from a
helicopter. Note Aerial Ignition Device.
Hose-lay - The arrangement of connected lengths of
fire hose and accessories on the ground beginning
at the first pump ing unit and ending at the point(s)
of water delivery.
Hierarchy of Command: see Chain of Command.
Holdover Fire - A fire that remains dormant and
undetected for a considerable time after it starts
(particularly lightning-caused fires). Synonym Sleeper Fire. Note Overwintering Fire.
Hose Strangler - A crimping device for stopping the
flow of water in a hose.
Hose Washer - An apparatus normally hooked to a
fire pump for cleaning the exterior of fire hose.
Hook, Cargo - Hook attached to the helicopter to
allow carrying of external loads. It is designed to
include both electrical and mechanical release
functions.
Hot Spot -
Remote or extended hook - designed to attach
to the end of a line which can be remotely
operated by the pilot.
Multi -hook - a system of multiple hooks
allowing the transport of separate loads
Hose - Conveys water under positive and sometimes
negative pressure from the fire pumping unit to the
outlet normally affixed with standardized couplings
or connectors.
Non-Percolating Hose - Fire hose without
wetting or soaking characteristics.
(1)
A particularly active part of a fire. Note Hot
Spotting under Fire Suppression.
(2)
A small area of smouldering or glowing
combustion, which may be exhibiting smoke,
located on or within the fire perimeter; a term
commonly used during the mop-up stage of a
fire. Synonym - Smudge. Note Cold Trailing
under Fire Suppression.
Hot Spotting - Note Fire Suppression.
Human-caused Fire - See Man-caused Fire.
Humidity - Note Relative Humidity.
Humidity Sensor - The general name for devices used
Glossary - 26 -
to measure relative humidity in electronic weather
stations. Note Psychrometer.
Hygrograph - A continuous-recording hygrometer.
Hygrometer - An instrument for measuring the water
vapour content of the air. Note Psychrometer.
Hygrothermograph - An instrument that records
automatically and continuously both air
temperature and relative humidity. Synonym Thermohygrometer. Note Thermograph.
I
Ignition - The beginning of flame production or
smouldering combustion; the starting of a fire.
Ignition Pattern - The manner in which a prescribed
burn, backfire, or burnout, is set, determined by
weather, fuel, ignition system, topographic and other
factors having an influence on fire behaviour and
the objective of the burn. Several methods are
commonly used:
Angled Strip Ignition - The setting of a
number of lines of fire on an area at an angle to
the wind. The effect is to create lines of fire
with attributes of both a head fire and a flank
fire. Somewhat similar to maple leaf ignition,
except that the angled strip method is
normally used on flat or uniform terrain
whereas the maple leaf method is intended for
hilly areas.
Area Ignition - The setting of a number of
individual fires throughout an area either
simultaneously or in quick succession and so
spaced that they soon coalesce, influence, and
support each other to produce a hot, fastspreading fire throughout the area.
Area Grid Ignition - The setting of a number
of individual fires throughout an area so
spaced that they will spread independently
over most of the area before finally reinforcing
one another. (In Ontario referred to as spot
Glossary - 27 -
ignition).
Backfire Ignition - The setting of a line of fire
so that it will burn away from a control line
against the wind or downhill. (In Ontario
referred to as a single strip backfire). Note
Strip Fire Ignition.
Centre Fire Ignition (Centre Firing) - The
setting of fires in the centre of an area or
concentrated to create a central convection
column with additional fires set progressively
and less concentrated near the outer control
lines. As indrafts develop they draw the fire
toward the centre. Synonym - Convection
Burning.
Flank Fire Ignition - The setting of a line of
fire along a line parallel to the wind with the
fire spreading at right angles to the wind or
across a slope . (In Ontario referred to as a
single strip flank fire). Note Strip Fire
Ignition.
Head Fire Ignition - The setting of a line of fire
so that it will burn with the wind or upslope
away from a control line. (In Ontario referred
to as a single strip head fire). Note Strip Fire
Ignition.
Maple Leaf Ignition - The setting of lines of
fire progressively from the apex of a ridge
point and proceeding downhill. Used in hilly
areas to burn knolls or ridges where slope is
the main influence on fire spread. The effect is
to have flank fires radiating from the central
hilltop. (In Ontario referred to as a radial strip
flank fire). Synonym - Chevron Ignition (used
mainly in the United States). Note Angled
Strip Ignition and Strip Fire Ignition.
Perimeter Fire Ignition (Perimeter Firing) The setting of a series of fires or a line of fire
around the perimeter of an area and allowing
the fire(s) to burn toward the centre of the
area. May or may not involve centre firing.
Typically, fires are set first on the downwind
side to produce a backfire, then along the
sides of the area to produce flank fires, and
then on the upwind side to produce a head
fire.
Strip Fire Ignition - The setting of successive
parallel strips of fire (progressing outward
toward the perimeter of the area), each one
burning adjacent to the strip previously
burned. May be used for backfires, flank
fires, or head fires. (In Ontario referred to as
multiple strip backfire, multiple strip flank
fire, or multiple strip head fire).
Ignition Temperature - The minimum temperature at
Incident Command System (ICS) - A
standardized on-scene emergency management
concept specifically designed to allow its user(s)
to adopt an integrated organizational structure
equal to the complexity and demands of single or
multiple incidents, without being hindered by
jurisdictional boundaries.
Incident Communications Centre - The location
which ignition can take place and sustained
combustion can occur. Synonym - Kindling Point.
Incendiary Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
of the Communications Unit and the Message
Centre.
Incident Management Team - The Incident
Commander and appropriate Command and
General Staff personnel assigned to an incident.
ICS National Training Curriculum - A series of
17 training modules consisting of instructor
guides, visuals, tests, and student materials. The
modules cover all aspects of ICS operations. The
modules can be intermixed to meet specific training
needs.
Incident Objectives - Statements of guidance and
direction necessary for the selection of
appropriate strategy(s), and the tactical direction
of resources. Incident objectives are base on
realistic expectations of what can be accomplished
when all allocated resources have been effectively
deployed. Incident objectives must be achievable
and measurable, yet flexible enough to allow for
strategic and tactical alternatives.
Incident - An occurrence either human caused or by
natural phenomena, that requires action by
emergency service personnel to prevent or
minimize loss of life or damage to property and/or
natural resources.
Information Officer - A member of the Command
Incident Action Plan - Contains objectives
reflecting the overall incident strategy and specific
tactical actions and supporting information for the
next operati onal period. The Plan may be oral or
written. When written, the Plan may have a
number of forms as attachments (e.g., traffic plan,
safety plan, communications plan, map, etc.).
Staff responsible for interfacing with the public
and media or with other agencies requiring
information directly from the incident. There is
only one Information Officer per incident. The
Information Officer may have assistants.
Initial Response - Resources initially committed to
an incident.
Incident Base - Location at the incident where the
primary logistics functions are coordinated and
administered. (Incident name or other designator
will be added to the term Base.) The Incident
Command Post may be collocated with the Base.
There is only one Base per incident.
Incident Support Organization - Includes any
off-incident support provided to an incident.
Examples would be Agency Dispatch centres,
Airports, Mobilization Centres, etc.
Independent Crown Fire - Note Forest Fire (1).
Incident Commander - The individual responsible
for the management of all incident operations at
the Incident site. Note Fire Boss
Indirect Attack - Note Fire Suppression, Indirect.
Incident Command Post (ICP) - The location at
Infrared Scanner - An optical-electronic system for
which the primary command functions are
executed. The ICP may be collocated with the
incident base or other incident facilities.
Glossary - 28 -
identifying or obtaining imagery of thermal infrared
radiation to detect non-smoking fires or fire
perimeters through smoke. May also be used for
fire mapping. The system may be operated from an
aircraft, or hand-held on the ground. Note Thermal
Imagery.
singly, or multiple doors simultaneously or in
sequence, to produce the desired coverage level and
line length.
Initial Action - The steps taken after the report of a
fire and before actual fire fighting begins on it. Note
Initial Attack.
Inversion - The atmospheric condition in which
temperature within a vertical layer of air increases
with altitude, resulting in a very stable atmosphere.
This is contrary to the usual situation in which
temperature decreases with height. The term
"inversion" may also be applied to other
meteorological properties. However, in fire
management its usage is generally restricted to a
temperature inversion based at the earth's surface C
a common occurrence in the early morning hours
during the fire season.
Initial Attack - The action taken to halt the spread or
potential spread of a fire by the first fire fighting
force to arrive at the fire. Note Initial Action.
Initial Attack Base - Any place where initial attack
capability has been positioned in readiness for
probable fire action. The forces must have air and/or
ground transport capability on site. Synonym Attack Centre.
Initial Attack Crew - Personnel trained, equipped
and deployed to conduct suppression action to halt
the spread or potential spread of a wildfire within
the first burning period. Note Helitack Crew,
Rappel Crew, and Suppression Crew.
Island(s) of a Fire - Note Forest Fire (2).
Isobar - A line of equal or constant atmospheric
pressure displayed on a synoptic chart.
Initial Attack Resources - Fire fighting resources
J
funded and organized specifically for the prime
objective of implementing initial attack on wildfires
(e.g. airtankers, initial attack crews , helitack
crews ).
Initial Spread Index - Note Canadian Forest Fire
Weather Index System.
Jump Fire - See Spot Fire. Note Fire Behaviour.
Jurisdiction - The range or sphere of authority.
Public agencies have jurisdiction at an incident
related to their legal responsibilities and authority
for incident mitigation. Jurisdictional authority at
an incident can be political/geographical (e.g.,
city, county, state, or federal boundary lines) or
functional (e.g., police department, health
department, etc.). (See Multi jurisdiction.)
Inspection Run - A pass over the target by the
birddog aircraft or the airtanker to assess the flight
path and target. Note Dummy Run and Lead-in.
Intake Hose - See Suction Hose under Hose.
Intermediate Fuels - See Medium Fuels.
Intermediate Helicopter - 5 to 8 seats, up to
Jurisdictional Agency - The agency having
jurisdiction and responsibility for a specific
geographical area, or a mandated function.
approximately 2,500 lbs. external load. (e.g. Bell 206L,
AS350, Bell 407, Bell 222, etc.) Note Light, Medium
and Heavy Helicopter.
Intermittent Crown Fire - Note Forest Fire (1).
K
Intermittent Smoke - Note Smoke (2).
Intervalometer - An electronic device mounted in an
Kindling Point - See Ignition Temperature.
aircraft which actuates the compartment doors(s)
Glossary - 29 -
triangulate, plot the location, and record cloud-toground lightning flashes in real time over a large
predetermined area. Generally consists of a network
of direction finders and a position analyzer.
L
Limited Action Fire - see Modified Response.
Ladder Fuels - Fuels that provide vertical continuity
between the surface fuels and crown fuels in a
forest stand, thus contributing to the ease of
torching and crowning (e.g. tall shrubs, small-sized
trees, bark flakes, tree lichens). Synonym - Bridge
Fuels . Note Ground Fuels.
Line Boss - Note Suppression Boss under Fire
Overhead. See Operations Chief
Line Camp (Fireline Camp) - A camp with basic
facilities established along or near a fireline to
accommodate and supply personnel actively
engaged in fire suppression or mop-up work; does
not include base camp.
Lanyard - A length of rope or cable used to attach a
cargo net or sling to a helicopter cargo hook.
Leader - The ICS title for an individual responsible
Line-fire Intensity - See Frontal Fire Intensity.
for a Task Force, Sector functional unit.
Line Foreman - Note Suppression Boss under Fire
Lead-in - A technique whereby the airtanker follows
the birddog aircraft on the final run. Note Dummy
Run and Inspection Run.
Overhead. See Operations Chief
Line Locator - A person who selects and marks the
location of a control line.
Legitimate Smoke - Note Smoke (2).
Litres of Water per Hour Concept - An initial and
Level of Protection - The amount of effort that a fire
Liaison Officer - A member of the Command Staff
supporting fire bombing operation, with minimum
turn-around time for airtankers, involving rapid and
repeated dropping of large quantities of water or
other short-term retardant, with the objective of
holding the fire until complete control is achieved by
ground personnel. Note One Strike Concept .
responsible for coordinating with representatives
from cooperating and assisting agencies.
Litter - The uppermost part of the forest floor
management organization is willing to expend to
respond to forest fires based on the organization's
land and resource management objectives.
consisting of freshly cast or slightly decomposed
organic materials (i.e. the L layer). Note Duff.
Life-Safety - Refers to the joint consideration of
both the life and physical well being of
individuals.
Loaded Patrol - An aerial patrol where the aircraft is
carrying an initial attack crew or fire retardants on
board while conducting aerial detection flights.
Light Helicopter - 1 to 4 passenger seats, up to
approximately 1,500 lbs. external load. (e.g. Robinson
R22, Bell 47 and 206B, Hiller 12E/T, Hughes 500,
etc.). Note Intermediate, Medium, and Heavy
Helicopter.
Lightning Detection System - see Lightning
Loading Pad - A cement pad at a retardant base on
which aircraft stand when being loaded with slurry.
Synonym - Loading Ramp.
Loading Ramp - See Loading Pad.
Locator System
Logistics Section - The Section responsible for
Lightning Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
providing facilities, services, and materials for the
Incident.
Lightning Locator System - A network of electronic
field sensors linked to a central computer to detect,
Longline
Glossary - 30 -
A cable, usually in 50-ft. lengths, that may be equipped
with an electrical cable to activate the hook (s).
units that are assigned specific managerial
responsibilities, e.g., Staging Area Manager or
Camp Manager.
Long-term Retardant - A substance that by
chemical or physical action reduces the flammability
of combustibles and remains effective after
application, even after water content has
evaporated. Long-term retardants depend on
certain flame-inhibiting chemicals for their
effectiveness.
Management by Objectives - In ICS, this is a
top-down management activity which involves a
three-step process to achieve the incident goal.
The steps are: establishing the incident
objectives, selection of appropriate strategy(s) to
achieve the objectives, and the tactical direction
associated with the selected strategy. Tactical
direction includes: selection of tactics, selection of
resources, resource assignments, and
performance monitoring.
Lookout (1)
A person designated to detect and report fires
from a vantage point. Synonym - Towerman.
(2)
A location and associated structures from
which fires can be detected and reported. Note
Lookout Tower.
Man-caused Fire - A forest fire or wildfire caused by
human carelessness or malicious use of fire.
Synonyms - Human-caused Fire, People-caused
Fire, and Person-caused Fire.
Lookout Cupola - A small building normally
constructed with glass walls or windows permitting
an unobstructed view on all sides, but not designed
for living quarters. It may be located on a lookout
tower, or other artificial or natural elevation.
Synonym - Tower Cupola.
Manning Action - The daily or short-term adjustments
in the strength and positioning of fire suppression
resources required for initial attack to meet a
predetermined level of preparedness based on the
likelihood of fire occurrence and probable fire
behaviour as determined by the forecasted fire
danger. This may involve increasing or decreasing
the number and types of suppression crews and
equipment.
Lookout Tower - A tower built to raise a lookout
above nearby obstruction to sight. It is usually
capped by a lookout cupola. Synonym - Fire Tower.
Lost Line - Any part of a control line that fails to stop
Maple Leaf Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
the spread of a fire.
Medical Unit - Functional unit within the Service
Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for
the development of the Medical Emergency Plan,
and for providing emergency medical treatment of
incident personnel.
Low-level Jet Wind - A particular type of wind aloft
condition, evident in the vertical wind profile, in
which there is a zone increasing wind speed near the
earth's surface and then a zone of decreasing
velocity above a point of maximum wind speed.
Working values for the "jet point" height and wind
speed maximum are roughly 500 metres (m) and 30+
kilometres per hour (km/h), respectively.
Medium Fuels - Fuels too large to be ignited until
after the leading edge of the fire front passes, but
small enough to be completely consumed. Synonym
- Intermediate Fuels . Note Fine Fuels and Heavy
Fuels.
Medium Helicopter - 9 to 14 passenger seats, up to
approximately 6,000 lbs. external load. (e.g. Sikorsky
S55T and 58T, Bell 204, 205, 212, K-Max, etc.) Note
Light, Intermediate, Heavy Helicopter.
M
Message Centre - The Message Centre is part of
Managers - Individuals within ICS organizational
the Incident Communications Centre and is
Glossary - 31 -
collocated or placed adjacent to it. It receives
records, and routes information about resources
reporting to the incident, resource status, and
administrative and tactical traffic.
to burn within set policy and management guidelines
or may be actioned in such a manner as to bring the
wildfire back within those guidelines.
Moisture Content - Note Fuel Moisture Content.
Mineral Soil - That portion of the soil stratum
immediately below the litter and duff. Mineral soil
contains very little combustible material except on
highly productive sites where an upper soil horizon
may be enriched with organic matter.
Minisonde Observation - A method of constructing a
vertical temperature profile determined by air
temperature data being continuously telemetered to
a portable receiver unit at the earth's surface from a
transmitting sensor package that is carried aloft by a
free-lift balloon. Winds aloft may also be determined
at the same time for the purpose of constructing a
vertical wind profile by employing the procedures
used for a pilot balloon observation. Note Helicopter
Sounding and Rawinsonde Observation.
Mop-up - Note Fire Suppression.
Mop-up Time - Note Elapsed Time .
Multi-Agency Incident - An incident where one or
more agencies assist a jurisdictional agency or
agencies. May be single or unified command.
Multi-Agency Coordination Group (not
generally used in CICS) - A generalized term
which describes the functions and activities of
representatives of involved agencies and/or
jurisdictions who come together to make decisions
regarding the prioritizing of incidents, and the
sharing and use of critical resources. The MAC
organization is not a part of the on-scene ICS and
is not involved in developing incident strategy or
tactics.
Miscellaneous Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
Mixing Height - A term commonly used in air
pollution meteorology to denote the maximum height
above the earth's surface to which relatively
vigorous mixing due to convection takes place.
Above this layer, a stable atmosphere exists which
acts to suppress vertical mixing. The mixing height
is dependent on the vertical temperature profile.
Recommended SI unit is metres (m). Note
Ventilation Index.
Multi-Agency Coordination System (MACS)
(not generally used in CICS) - The combination
of personnel, facilities, equipment, procedures,
and communications integrated into a common
system. When activated, MACS has the
responsibility for coordination of assisting agency
resources and support in a multi-agency or multi
jurisdictional environment. A MAC Group
functions within the MACS.
Mixmaster - The person in charge of fire retardant
mixing operations, with responsibility for quantity
and quality of the slurry and for the loading of
aircraft in land-based airtanker operations.
Multi Jurisdiction Incident - An incident
requiring action from multiple agencies that have a
statutory responsibility for incident mitigation. In
ICS these incidents will be managed under Unified
Command.
Mobilization - The process and procedures used by
all organizations federal, state, and local for
activating, assembling, and transporting all
resources that have been requested to respond to
or support an incident.
Multiple Fire Situation - A circumstance of high fire
incidence over short periods of time in any
administrative unit, usually overtaxing the normal
initial attack capability of the unit. Synonym - Bust
or Fire Bust.
Mobilization Centre - An off-incident location at
which emergency service personnel and
equipment are temporarily located pending
assignment, release, or reassignment.
Multiple Strip Backfire - Note Backfire Ignition and
Strip Fire Ignition under Ignition Pattern.
Modified Response Fire - A wildfire that is allowed
Multiple Strip Flank Fire - Note Flank Fire Ignition
Glossary - 32 -
and Strip Fire Ignition under Ignition Pattern.
One Strike Concept - A fire bombing operation
Multiple Strip Head Fire - Note Head Fire Ignition
involving fast initial action and the delivery of
enough long-term retardant to achieve the initial
attack objective in one trip. Note Litres of Water
per Hour Concept.
and Strip Fire Ignition under Ignition Pattern.
Muskeg Tanker - A specialized self-contained allterrain vehicle with a pumping unit that has the
capabilities of a conventional truck tanker.
Operational Period - The period of time scheduled
for execution of a given set of operation actions as
specified in the Incident Action Plan. Operational
Periods can be of various lengths, although
usually not over 24 hours.
Mutual Aid Agreement - Written agreement
between participating agencies and/or
jurisdictions in which they agree to assist one
another upon request, by furnishing resources.
Operations Section - The Section responsible for
all tactical operations at the incident. Includes
Branches, Divisions and/or Groups, Sectors,
Task Forces, Single Resources, and Staging
Areas.
N
Origin(s) of a Fire - See Point(s) of Origin under
Forest Fire (2).
Natural Fire - Any fire of natural origin (i.e. caused
directly by lightning or volcanoes). Note Fire Cause
Class.
Other Industry Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
Out - Note Control a Fire.
Negative Suction Lift - Note Static Suction Lift.
Out of Control - Note Control a Fire.
Neutral Atmosphere - Note Atmospheric Stability.
Out-of-Service Resources - Resources assigned
Non-Percolating Hose - Note Hose.
to an incident but unable to respond for
mechanical, rest, or personnel reasons.
Non-ventilated Psychrometer - Note Psychrometer.
Overhead Personnel - Personnel who are assigned
Not Under Control - See Out of Control under
to supervisory positions which include Incident
Commander, Command Staff, General Staff,
Directors, Supervisors, and Unit Leaders
Control a Fire.
NOTAM - Temporary airspace restrictions for nonemergency aircraft in the incident area. NOTAM’s
are established by Transport Canada to ensure
aircraft safety, and are normally limited to a five
nautical mile radius and 3,000 feet in altitude.
Overwintering Fire - A fire that persists throughout
winter months to the opening of a fire season. Note
Holdover Fire.
P
O
Officer - The ICS title for the personnel responsible
for the Command Staff positions of Safety,
Liaison, and Information.
Pack Pump - See Back-pack Pump.
Para-cargo - That portion of air cargo to be delivered
Glossary - 33 -
by para-drop.
elevation and azimuth angles of a theodolite, usually
at 1-minute intervals, while optically tracking the
ascent of a small free-lift balloon. A PIBAL is
commonly used for constructing a vertical wind
profile. Note Minisonde and Rawinsonde
Observations.
Para-drop - Cargo, attached to a parachute, dropped
from an aircraft in flight.
Parallel Attack - Note Fire Suppression, Parallel.
Parallel Pumping - A procedure whereby the flow
Planning Meeting - A meeting held as needed
throughout the duration of an incident, to select
specific strategies and tactics for incident control
operations, and for service and support planning.
On larger incidents, the planning meeting is a
major element in the development of the Incident
Action Plan.
from two fire pumps is combined into one hose line.
Note Siamese.
Partial Control - See Being Held under Control a
Fire.
Passive Crown Fire - See Intermittent Crown Fire
under Forest Fire (1).
Planning Section - Responsible for the collection,
evaluation, and dissemination of tactical
information related to the incident, and for the
preparation and documentation of Incident Action
Plans. The Section also maintains information on
the current and forecasted situation, and on the
status of resources assigned to the incident.
Includes the Situation, Resource, Documentation,
and Demobilization Units, as well as Technical
Specialists.
Patrol (1)
To inspect a section of a control line or
portion of the fire perimeter to prevent
escape of the fire.
(2)
To travel a given route to inspect, prevent,
detect, and suppress fires.
Patrol Time - Note Elapsed Time .
Pocket(s) of a Fire - See Bay(s) of a Fire under
Forest Fire (2).
People-caused Fire - See Man-caused Fire.
Point(s) of Origin - Note Forest Fire (2).
Percolating Hose - Note Hose.
Perimeter Fire Ignition (Perimeter Firing) - Note
Position Analyzer (PA) - In the lightning locator
system, the position analyzer is the central
processor of incoming lightning flash data from the
network of direction finder. Compares detected flash
data from the direction finder and triangulates,
records, stores, and plots calculated flash locations
for output to a remote display system.
Ignition Pattern.
Period of Alert - A period when fire fighters, fire
control equipment, and aircraft are kept ready for
deployment on short notice, usually when the fire
danger reaches a predetermined degree of severity.
May also involve an increase in fire prevention
activities and often precedes a fores t closure. Note
Standby.
Person-caused Fire - See Man-caused Fire.
Positive Suction Lift - Note Static Suction Lift.
Power Pump - See Fire Pump.
Power pump kit - A kit containing a portable forestry
power pump, pump tool box containing hoseline
accessories, suction hose with foot valve and
gasoline container with fuel line.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) - Any piece
of equipment or clothing designed to be used to
protect the health and/or safety of an individual.
Pilot Balloon Observation (PIBAL) - A method of
Power pump unit - A unit containing a power pump
determining winds aloft in the vicinity of an
observation station by periodically reading the
Glossary - 34 -
kit with the addition of 20 - 25 lengths of 12-inches
by 100-feet (38 mm x 30.5 m) long hose with quick-
connect couplings.
Pressure Altitude - The indicated altitude of an
aircraft's pressure altimeter at an altimeter setting of
29.92 inches of mercury (in. Hg). Note Density
Altitude.
Preattack Plan - A plan detailing predetermined fire
suppression strategy and tactics to be deployed
following fire occurrence in a given land
management unit. A preattack plan contains data on
fuel types and topographic conditions including
fuelbreaks, access routes and travel times, water
supply sources, lakes suitable for skimmer aircraft,
and existing heliports. It also includes information
on existing and/or proposed locations for control
lines (including the types and number of fire
suppression resources that may be required and
probable rates of fireguard construction, and
possible constraints), base and line camps ,
helispots, and the priorities for construction and/or
improvement of presuppression facilities. Note Fire
Management Plan and Fire Suppression Plan.
Preattack Planning - The process of collecting,
evaluating, and recording fire intelligence data, in
advance of fire occurrence, for decision-making
purposes to increase the chances of successful fire
suppression in initial attack and campaign fire
situations consistent with the fire management
objectives for a given area.
Presuppression - Those fire management activities in
advance of fire occurrence concerned with the
organization, training, and management of a fire
fighting force and the procurement, maintenance,
and inspection of improvements, equipment, and
supplies to ensure effective fire suppression.
Prevention - Note Fire Prevention.
Primary Weather Station - Note Fire Weather
Station.
Probe - See Ground Probe.
Procurement Unit - Functional unit within the
Finance/Administration Section responsible for
financial matters involving vendor contracts.
Project Fire - See Campaign Fire.
Psychrometer - the general name for instruments
designed for determining the water vapour content
of the air. A psychrometer consists of dry- and wetbulb thermometers, which when properly ventilated
indicate the dry- and wet-bulb temperatures used to
determine the relative humidity and dew point of the
atmosphere, generally with the aid of psychrometric
tables or slide rule. A non-ventilated psychrometer
relies on the natural movement of air for ventilation,
whereas a ventilated psychrometer relies on
artificially circulated air (e.g. sling psychrometer).
Note Hygrometer and Sling Psychrometer.
Precipitation - Any or all of the forms of water,
whether liquid (i.e. rain or drizzle) or solid (e.g. snow
or hail), that fall from the atmosphere and reach the
ground. The more common term "rainfall" also is
used in this total sense to include not only amount
of rain, but also the water equivalent of frozen
precipitation. Precipitation is the preferred general
term.
Preheating
Phase
of
Combustion - Note
Combustion.
Preparedness - Condition or degree of being able and
Pulaski - Note Tools, Hand, Fire.
ready to cope with an anticipated fire situation.
Pumper Trailer - See Tank Trailer.
Prescribed Burning - The knowledgeable application
of fire to a specific land area to accomplish
predetermined forest management or other land use
objectives. Synonym - Fire Use.
R
Prescribed Fire - Any fire utilized for prescribed
burning; usually ignited according to agency policy
and management objectives.
Radial Strip Flank Fire - Note Maple Leaf Ignition
under Ignition Pattern.
Glossary - 35 -
Radiation - Note Heat Transfer.
Rawinsonde Observation - A method of determining
wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative
humidity, and atmospheric pressure at various
levels in the atmosphere in the vicinity of an
observation station by tracking a transmitting,
balloon-borne sensor package with a radio directionfinder or by radar. A rawinsonde observation is
commonly used in determining atmospheric stability
and for constructing vertical temperature and wind
profiles. Note Helicopter Sounding and Minisonde
Observation.
Radio Cache - A supply of radios stored in a
pre-determined location for assignment to
incidents.
Railroad Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
Rain - Precipitation in the form of liquid water drops.
Recommended SI unit for measurement is millimetres
(mm) (10 mm is equivalent to 1 cm). Note
Precipitation.
Rear of a Fire - See Back of a Fire under Forest Fire
(2).
Rain Gauge - The general name for instruments
designed to measure the amount of rain that has
fallen. Both recording and non-recording types are
commonly used at fire weather stations.
Reburn - Subsequent burning of an area previously
burned.
Recorders - Individuals within ICS organizational
Rake, Fire - Note Tools, Hand, Fire.
units who are responsible for recording
information. Recorders may be found in Planning,
Logistics, and Finance/Administration Units .
Rappel Crew - An initial attack crew trained to
descend from a specially equipped, hovering
helicopter on a rope fitted with a mechanical device
to control the rate of descent.
Rate of Area Growth - The speed at which a fire
increases its size, expressed in terms of area per unit
of time. Recommended SI unit is hectares per hour
(ha/h). Note Rate of Perimeter Growth and Rate of
Spread.
Recreation Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
Reinforces Response - Those resources requested
in addition to the initial response.
Relative Humidity (RH) - The ratio, expressed as a
fire increases its perimeter, expressed in terms of
distance per unit of time. Recommended SI units are
metres per minute (m/min) and kilometres per hour
(km/h). Synonym - Rate of Perimeter Increase. Note
Rate of Area Growth and Rate of Spread.
percentage, of the amount of water vapour or
moisture in the air to the maximum amount of
moisture that the air would hold at the same dry-bulb
temperature and atmospheric pressure (RH can
vary from 0 to 100%). For example, 60% RH means
that the air contains 60% of the moisture it is capable
of holding. Popularly called humidity.
Rate of Perimeter Increase - See Rate of Perimeter
Relay Tank - A tank, usually collapsible, used as a
Rate of Perimeter Growth - The speed at which a
reservoir in the relay of water from one fire pumpto
another.
Growth.
Rate of Spread (ROS) - The speed at which a fire
extends its horizontal dimensions, expressed in terms
of distance per unit of time. Generally thought of in
terms of a fire's forward movement or head fire rate
of spread, but also applicable to backfire and flank
fire ROS. Recommended SI units are metres per
minute (m/min) and kilometres per hour (km/h) (1.0
m/min is equivalent to 0.06 km/h)). Note Rate of Area
Growth and Rate of Perimeter Growth.
Remote Automatic Weather Station (RAWS) - A
Glossary - 36 -
weather station at which the services of an observer
are not required. A RAWS unit measures selected
weather elements automatically and is equipped with
telemetry apparatus for transmitting the
electronically recorded data via radio, satellite, or by
a land-line communication system at predetermined
times or on a user request basis.
Restricted Fire Zone - Note Closed Area.
Report Time - Note Elapsed Time.
Restricted Travel Zone - Note Closed Area.
Reporting Locations - Location or facilities where
incoming resources can check -in at the incident.
(See Check-in.)
Retardant - Note Fire Retardant.
Retardant Base - The ground facilities for mixing,
Reservoir Tank - Collapsible reservoir tank slung by
helicopter directly to a fire site using a longline,
referred to a Stillwell Tank in British Columbia. Note
Relay Tank.
storing, and loading fire retardant into airtankers.
Note Airtanker Base.
Rheologic Properties - Flow characteristics of liquid
fire retardants and suppressants, especially their
cohesiveness or ability to hold together while falling
through the air during a retardant drop.
Residence Time - The length of time required for the
flaming zone or fire front of a spreading forest fire
to pass a giv en point, most commonly expressed in
minutes (min) and/or seconds (s). Numerically, it is
equal to the flame depth divided by the rate of
spread. Note Burn-out Time.
Rheology - Science of deformation and flow of fire
retardants and suppressants, especially of the
cohesiveness of bodies and stress-strain
relationship of their particles.
Resident Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
Rich Tool - Note Tools, Hand, Fire.
Resistance to Control - The relative ease of
establishing and holding a fireguard and/or
securing a control line as determined by the
difficulty of control and resistance to fireguard
construction.
Risk from Wildfire - The exposure to the chance of
loss from wildfire. For example, there is a 25%
chance that a value at risk will be destroyed by a
wildfire sometime in the next 50 years. Risk can also
be calculated by multiplying damage (or loss) by
uncertainty.
Resistance to Fireguard Construction - The
relative difficulty of constructing fireguards as
determined by fuel type characteristics (e.g. forest
floor depth), effects of topography on access (e.g.
slope steepness), and mineral soil type. Note
Difficulty of Control and Resistance to Control .
Resources - Personnel and equipment available, or
potentially available, for assignment to incidents.
Resources are described by kind and type, e.g.,
ground, water, air, etc., and may be used in tactical
support or overhead capacities at an incident
Rotor Downwash - The air turbulence occurring under
and around the main rotor system(s) of an operating
rotary-wing aircraft. Note Vortex Turbulence.
Running (Fire) - Note Fire Behaviour.
Running Crown Fire - See Independent Crown Fire
under Forest Fire (1).
Resources Unit - Functional unit within the
Planning Section responsible for recording the
status of resources committed to the incident.
The Unit also evaluates resources currently
committed to the incident, the impact that
additional responding resources will have on the
incident, and anticipated resource needs.
S
Safety Officer - A member of the Command Staff
Response Time - Note Get-Away Time under Elapsed
Time.
Glossary - 37 -
responsible for monitoring and assessing safety
hazards or unsafe situations, and for developing
measures for ensuring personnel safety. The
Safety Officer may have assistants.
are also classed as blind. All observations are
made under specified visibility conditions.
Safety Zone
A safety zone is a location where fire fighters can
shelter from threatening fireline hazards
Seen Area Map - A map showing the different classes
of seen area covered by a lookout or lookouts. It
may differentiate visible, screened, and blind areas;
or only two classes, visible and blind, may be
recognized. Synonym - Visibility Map.
Salvo - To drop all of an airtanker's load of
suppressant or retardant at once.
Screened Area - Note Seen Area.
Secondary Weather Station - Note Fire Weather
Service Branch - A Branch within the Logistics
Section responsible for service activities at the
incident. Includes the Communications, Medical,
and Food Units .
Station.
Section - That organization level with responsibilit y
for a major functional area of the incident, e.g.,
Operations, Planning, Logistics,
Finance/Administration. The Section is
organizationally between Branch and Incident
Commander.
Shock Crew - See Initial Attack Crew.
Short -term Retardant - A water-based substance
wherein water is the fire suppressing agent.
Shovel, Fire - Note Tools, Hand, Fire.
Sector (Segment) (ICS)- A geographical area in
which a Task Force/Sector Leader or supervisor
of a single resource is assigned authority and
responsibility for the coordination of resources
and implementation of planned tactics. A
Sector/Segment may be a portion of a division or
an area inside or outside the perimeter of an
incident. Sectors (Segment) are identified with
Arabic numerals .
Siamese without valves - a three-way hose line
accessory to combine the flow from two lines
of hose into a single discharge line, with no
provisions to regulate stream flow. Note Wye
without valves.
with valves - A three-way hose line accessory
to combine the flow from two lines of hose
into a single discharge line. Valves located in
the intake ports permit control of stream flow
or shutting off one or both supply lines. Note
Wye with valves.
Sector (LFO) - A designated segment of the fire
perimeter handled as a unit for suppression
purposes. Note Sector Boss under Fire Overhead.
See Sector/Segment (ICS)
Sector Boss (LFO) - Note Fire Overhead. See Leader
Note: If fitted with instantaneous twist-lock
(unisex) couplings, a single accessory will
perform the functions of both siamese
and a wye.
Seen Area - Synonym - Visible Area.
Visible - The ground or the vegetation
growing thereon directly visible from an
established or proposed lookout.
Screened - The ground or vegetation thereon
not directly visible, but over which the
lookout's line of sight passes at an elevation
not in excess of a given standard.
Blind - Areas not visible to the lookout and
more than a given standard elevation below
the line of sight. Screened areas at the limit of
visibility and not having a good background
Sides of a Fire - See Flanks of Fire under Forest Fire
(2).
Single Resource - An individual, a piece of
equipment and its personnel complement, or a
crew or team of individuals with an identified work
supervisor (ie CrewBoss) that can be used on a n
incident.
Single Strip Backfire - Note Backfire Ignition under
Glossary - 38 -
Ignition Pattern.
Single Strip Flank Fire - Note Flank Fire Ignition
Slashburning - The broadcast burning of slash
under Ignition Pattern.
resulting specifically from timber harvesting
operations.
Single Strip Head Fire - Note Head Fire Ignition
Slash Disposal - The treatment of slash for hazard
under Ignition Pattern.
reduction, silvicultural, or other purposes. Note Fuel
Management.
Situation Report (SITREP) - An itemized list and/or
written account, usually issued on a daily basis,
detailing the status of various fire-related activities.
A SITREP generally contains information on fire
occurrence and area burned to date, fire
suppression resources committed to going fires and
resources on standby, number of fires in the various
stages of control , fire danger class, fire weather
forecast, and forest closures (if any).
Sleeper Fire - See Holdover Fire.
Sling - A looped line of strap or rope attachable to a
lanyard to lift, lower, or carry cargo beneath a
helicopter. Note Cargo Net.
Sling Psychrometer - A portable, hand-operated
psychrometer. The dry- and wet-bulb thermometers
are mounted on a frame connected to a handle at one
end by means of a bearing or length of chain. Thus,
it can be whirled by hand to provide the necessary
ventilation.
Situation Unit - Functional unit within the Planning
Section responsible for the collection,
organization, and analysis of incident status
information, and for analysis of the situation as it
progresses. Reports to the Planning Section
Chief.
Slip-on Tank - A self-contained unit consisting of a
water tank, fire pump, and hose designed for quick
loading on conventional trucks.
Skidder Tanker - See Skidder Unit.
Skidder Unit -
Slope - The upward or downward inclination of the
(1)
A self-contained unit consisting of water tank,
fire pump, and hose specially designed to be
carried on a logging skidder for use in fire
suppression. Synonym - Skidder Tanker.
(2)
A basket to hold fire fighting tools and
equipment specially designed to be carried on
a logging skidder.
(3)
The term usually applies to the special
attachments, but it may also refer to the
attachments and logging skidder together.
Note Forwarder Unit.
earth's surface (i.e. the deviation in terrain from level
or flat ground). Most commonly expressed as a
percentage. Numerically, it is equal to the vertical
rise or fall in elevation divided by the horizontal
distance and then multiplied by 100.
Slurry - A suspension of insoluble matter in water. In
fire suppression, it is a general term applied to any
long-term or short-term retardant after the mixing
process has been completed.
Smoke (1)
The visible products of combustion rising
above a fire.
(2)
A term often used when reporting a fire or
probable fire in its initial stages. In fire
management the following types of smoke are
recognized:
Skimmer - Any aircraft equipped to pick up water
while in motion on or over water.
Slash - Debris left as a result of forest and other
vegetation being altered by forestry practices and
other land use activities (e.g. timber harvesting,
thinning and pruning, road construction, seismic line
clearing). Slash includes material such as logs,
splinters or chips, tree branches and tops, uprooted
stumps, and broken or uprooted trees and shrubs.
Glossary - 39 -
Legitimate Smoke - Smoke from any
authorized use of fire or other permissible
sources, such as permitted debris burning,
locomotives, industrial operations.
False Smoke - Any phenomenon mistaken
for smoke.
Span of Control - The supervisory ratio of from
Drift Smoke - Smoke that has drifted from
its origin and has lost any original billow
form.
Spot Fire -
three-to-seven individuals, with five-to-one being
established as optimum.
(1)
A fire ignited by firebrands that are carried
outside the main fire perimeter by air
currents, gravity, and/or fire whirls. Synonym
- Jump Fire. Note Fire Behaviour.
(2)
A very small fire that requires little time or
effort to extinguish.
Intermittent Smoke - Smoke that becomes
visible occasionally.
Smoke Haze - Haze caused by smoke.
Smoke Column - Smoke and other gases that form a
column -shaped mass above a fire, characterized by
sharply defined, billowed edges. Note Convection
Column.
Spot Ignition - Note Area Grid Ignition under
Ignition Pattern.
Spotter - In rappelling and smokejump ing operations,
Smoke Column - Note Smoke (2).
the individual responsible for selecting drop target
and supervising all aspects of dropping
smokejumpers or rappel crews .
Smoke Haze - Note Smoke (2).
Smokejumpers - Fire fighters trained and equipped to
parachute to fires (usually in remote areas) for initial
attack .
Spotting - Note Spot Fire and Fire Behaviour.
Spot Weather Forecast - Note Fire Weather
Forecast.
Smoke Management - Scheduling and conducting a
prescribed burning program under predetermined
burning prescriptions and firing techniques that will
minimize the adverse impacts of the resulting smoke
production in smoke sensitive areas. Note Mixing
Height and Ventilation Index.
Smoke Sensitive Area - An area in which smoke
from outside sources is intolerable, owing to heavy
population, transportation services, existing air
pollution, and/or intensive recreation/tourist use.
Sprinkler Kit - A collection of water thieves, supply
hose and water sprinkler heads used to wet the fuels
along the fire perimeter or along a fireguard or in
value protection.
Squall Line - A narrow, organized band of active
thunderstorms , often preceding a cold front.
Stable Atmosphere - Note Atmospheric Stability.
Stages of Control - Note Control a Fire.
Smouldering Combustion - Note Combustion.
Staging Area - Staging Areas are locations set up
Smouldering (Fire) - Note Fire Behaviour.
at an incident where resources can be placed
while awaiting a tactical assignment. Staging
Areas are managed by the Operations Section.
Smudge - See Hot Spot (2).
Snag - A standing dead tree or part of a dead tree from
which at least the smaller branches have fallen.
Synonym - Chicot.
Staging Camp - A facility to accommodate
prearranged (standby) suppression forces either for
initial attack or follow up, or for intra or interagency
export.
Solid Mass Transport - Note Heat Transfer.
Solid Phase of Combustion - Note Combustion.
Strategy - The general plan or direction selected to
accomplish incident objectives.
Glossary - 40 -
String drop - A technique whereby a specified number
Standby - A state of readiness to take immediate action
of doors are opened in succession to give an
extended pattern or string on the ground.
on detection of a fire. Note Period of Alert.
Static Discharge Head - In hydraulics, the term used
for the vertical distance between a fire pump and the
nozzle outlet.
Strip Fire Ignition - Note Ignition Pattern.
Subsidence - A meteorological term referring to the
descending motion of air in the atmosphere, usually
extending over a rather broad area, accompanied by
warming and drying. Note Convection (1).
Static Suction Lift - In hydraulics, the term used for
the vertical distance between the surface of the
water supply to the suction inlet of a fire pump; may
be positive or negative. Positive suction lift occurs
when the water supply level is higher than that of
the suction inlet (the water is aiding the pump). If the
fire pump is above the water supply it must lift the
water, creating a negative suction lift (the most
common situation).
Stevenson Screen - A box-like structure designed to
protect air temperature and humidity sensing
instruments (e.g. psychrometer) while providing a
shaded and ventilated environment. The standard
Stevenson Screen is made of wood, painted white,
and has double louvered sides and a double roof.
When installed at a fire weather station, a
Stevenson Screen is firmly mounted on a wooden
stand with its floor 115 centimetres (cm) above the
ground and the door facing north.
Subsurface Fire - See Ground Fire under Forest Fire
(1).
Suction Hose - Note Hose.
Suction Lift - Note Static Suction Lift.
Supervisor - The ICS title for individuals responsible
for command of a Division or Group.
Supply Unit - Functional unit within the Support
Branch of the Logistics Section responsible for
ordering equipment and supplies required for
incident operations.
Support Branch - A Branch within the Logistics
Section responsible for providing personnel,
equipment, and supplies to support incident
operations. Includes the Supply, Facilities, and
Ground Support Units.
Strategy, Fire Suppression (1)
(2)
Preparedness - In a broad organizational
sense the determination of when, where, and
what level of resource deployment is required
to meet anticipated fire incidence.
Active Fires - Determination of potential
control problems based on a calculation of fire
probabilities and development of an
appropriate action plan that will best utilize the
assigned resources in the control effort.
Generally a command and planning decision as
opposed to a line function.
Note: Tactics , Fire Suppression.
Support Resources - Non-tactical resources under
the supervision of the Logistics, Planning,
Finance/Administration Sections , or the
Command Staff
Supporting Materials - Refers to the several
attachments that may be included with an Incident
Action Plan, e.g., communications plan, map,
safety plan, traffic plan, and medical plan.
Suppressant - An agent used to extinguish the
flaming and smouldering or glowing stages of
combustion by direct application to burning fuels.
Note Short-term Retardant.
Strike Team (not generally used in CICS): see
Task Force Sector Leader - Specified
combinations of the same kind and type of
resources, with common communications and a
leader.
Suppression - Note Fire Suppression.
Suppression Boss - Note Fire Overhead.
Glossary - 41 -
resource group to cope with site-specific conditions
and fire behaviour at the moment. This is a line
function. Note Strategy, Fire Suppression.
Suppression Crew- A unit of fire fighters assembled
and organized for conducting fire suppression,
either for initial attack and/or continuing work on
fires. Crew size, specialization, and configuration
determined by agency procedure. Synonyms - Fire
Crew and Fire Squad.
Tandem - A term to designate the use of two or more
units of the same type (e.g. fire pumps , bulldozers,
crews of fire fighters) working one in front of the
other to accomplish a specific fire suppression job.
Surface Fire - Note Forest Fire (1).
Surface Fuels - All combustible materials lying above
Tanker - A specialized truck on which is mounted a
the duff layer between the ground and ladder fuels
that are responsible for propagating surface fires
(e.g. litter, herbaceous vegetation, low and medium
shrubs, tree seedlings, stumps, downed-dead
roundwood). Note Crown Fuels.
tank, a fire pump, hose, and supplementary
equipment. (Sometimes used as a short form for
airtanker).
Tank Trailer - A specialized trailer on which is
mounted a tank, a fire pump, hose, and
supplementary equipment. Synonym - Pumper
Trailer (used in Saskatchewan).
Surfactant - A surface active agent or wetting agent.
A formulation which when added to water in proper
amounts will materially reduce the surface tension of
the water and increase penetration and spreading
abilities of the water.
Task Force - A combination of single resources
(crews and or heavy equipment) assembled for a
particular tactical need, with common
communications and a leader. May be assigned
to a geographic sector.
Sustained Action Crew- Personnel trained, equipped
and deployed to conduct suppression action on a
wildfire for an extended period of time.
Team: see Single Resource.
Synoptic Chart - Any map on which weather data and
analyses are presented depicting the state of
meteorological conditions over a large area at the
earth's surface and at various levels in the upper
atmosphere, at a particular time. Synonym - Weather
Map.
Technical Specialists - Personnel with special skills
that can be used anywhere within the ICS
organization.
Thermal Imagery - The display or printout from an
infrared scanner.
Thermograph - A self-recording thermometer or an
T
instrument that records automatically and
continuously air temperature on a chart. Note
Hygrothermograph.
Thermohygrometer - See Hygrothermograph .
Tactical Direction - Direction given by the
Operations Section Chief which includes the
tactics appropriate for the selected strategy, the
selection and assignment of resources, tactics
implementation, and performance monitoring for
each operational period.
Thunderhead - A popular term for a cumulonimbus
cloud (CB) formation associated with a
thunderstorm. It is characterized by a large vertical
column topped by a mushroom or anvil-shaped
head.
Thunderstorm - A localized storm, invariably
Tactics, Fire Suppression - Determining exactly
where to establish control lines, what to do along
these lines, and how best to utilize each fire fighting
Glossary - 42 -
produced by a cumulonimbus cloud (CB),
accompanied by lightning and thunder. Synonym Electrical Storm.
Time Unit - Functional unit within the
Travel Time - Note Elapsed Time.
Finance/Administration Section responsible for
recording time for incident personnel and hired
equipment.
Turnaround Time - Time used by an air tanker or
helitanker to reload and return to the fire.
Timelag (TL) - the drying time, under stated
conditions of dry-bulb temperature, relative
humidity, wind speed, and time of the year, required
for dead fuels to lose about two -thirds (2/3) of the
difference between their initial moisture content and
their equilibrium moisture content. The TL
therefore represents the rate of moisture change in a
fuel. Dead forest fuels can have TL values from
minutes to months. The fuels represented by the
Fine Fuel Moisture Code, Duff Moisture Code, and
Drought Code in the Canadian Forest Fire Weather
Index System have TL values of 2/3 (or 16 hours),
12, and 52 days in average weather, respectively.
Type (used for personnel only in CICS) - Refers to
resource capability. A Type 1 resource provides
a greater overall capability due to power, size,
capacity, etc., than would be found in a Type 2
resource. Resource typing provides managers
with additional information in selecting the best
resource for the task.
Type of Fire - Note Forest Fire (1).
Type of Hose - Note Hose.
Tool Cache - See Fire Equipment Cache.
U
Tools, Hand, Fire - The principal hand tools used in
fire suppression are:
Pulaski - A combination chopping and
trenching tool, which combines a single-bitted
axe-blade with a narrow adze -like trenching
blade fitted to a straight handle. Useful for
grubbing or trenching in duff and matted
roots. Well balanced for chopping.
Rake, Fire (Rich Type) - A long-handled
combination rake and cutting tool, the blade of
which is made up of a single row of mowingmachine cutter teeth. Useful for trenching,
scraping, and cutting, particularly in leaves,
pine needles, and light duff. Also known as a
Rich Tool.
UHF - Ultra High Frequency. Operates in the 300 B 3000
Mhz range.
Under Control - Note Control a Fire.
Unified Area Command - A Unified Area
Command is established when incidents under an
Area Command are multi jurisdictional. (See
Area Command and Unified Command.)
Unified Command - In ICS, Unified Command is a
unified team effort which allows all agencies with
responsibility for the incident, either geographical
or functional, to manage an incident by
establishing a common set of incident objectives
and strategies. This is accomplished without
losing or abdicating agency authority,
responsibility, or accountability.
Shovel, Fire - A type of shovel specifically
designed for use in constructing a fire line,
having a tapered blade with both edges
sharpened. Used for scraping, digging,
grubbing, throwing and cutting.
Unit - The organizational element having functional
responsibility for a specific incident planning,
logistics, or finance/administration activity.
Torch or Torching - Note Fire Behaviour.
Tower Cupola - See Lookout Cupola.
Unity of Command - The concept by which each
person within an organization reports to one and
only one designated person.
Towerman - See Lookout.
Glossary - 43 -
VI classes, accompanied by descriptive terms
ranging from poor to excellent dispersion, were
defined for use in operational forecasting).
Unknown Fire - Note Fire Cause Class.
Unstable Atmosphere - Note Atmospheric Stability.
Venting Index - synonymous with ventilation index.
Upper Ridge - A meteorological term referring to an
elongated area of relatively high atmospheric
pressure in the upper atmosphere; usually
associated with warm and dry weather conditions at
the earth's surface. The opposite of an upper ridge
is an upper trough.
Vertical Temperature Profile - A plot of actual air
Upper Ridge Breakdown - A weakening or collapse
Vertical Wind Profile - A plot of winds aloft against
of an upper ridge; generally associated with an
increase in fire weather severity at the earth's
surface.
height above the earth's surface; most commonly
determined by a pilot balloon observation. Note
Minisonde and Rawinsonde Observations.
Upper Trough - A meteorological term referring to an
VHF - Very High Frequency radio. The standard aircraft
elongated area of relatively low atmospheric
pressure in the upper atmosphere; often associated
with cool and showery weather conditions at the
earth's surface. The opposite of an upper trough is
an upper ridge.
radio that all civil aircraft use to communicate with
ground radio stations and other aircraft.
temperature against height above the earth's
surface; most commonly determined by a
rawinsonde obs ervation. Note Helicopter Sounding
and Minisonde Observation.
VHF-AM - Very High Frequency Amplitude
Modulation. Aircraft radio operates in the 118 Mhz
to 130 Mhz range.
VHF-FM - Very High Frequency Frequency
Modulation radio. Commonly used for dispatch,
land-based mobile and airborne communications.
(low band 46 to 48 Mhz, high band 150 to 175 Mhz.)
V
Virga - Wisps or streaks of water or ice particles falling
Values-at-Risk - The specific or collective set of
natural resources and man-made improvements/
developments that have me asurable or intrinsic
worth and that could of may be destroyed or
otherwise altered by fire in any given area. Synonym
- Values-at-Stake.
Values-at-Stake - See Values-at-Risk.
out of a cloud but evaporating before reaching the
earth's surface as precipitation.
Viscosity - The relative ability of a fluid to resist flow.
Visibility Map - See Seen Area Map.
Visible Area - See Seen Area.
Ventilated Psychrometer - Note Psychrometer.
Vortex Turbulence - Horizontal whirlwind(s) created
Ventilation Index (VI) - A term commonly used in
air pollution meteorology. The VI is a numerical
value relating to the potential of the atmosphere to
disperse airborne pollutants from a stationary source
(e.g. smoke from a prescribed fire). It is calculated
by multiplying the mixing height by the average
wind speed in the mixed layer. (In British Columbia's
1986 smoke management program, the resultant
product was converted to a scale from 0 to 100. Five
Glossary - 44 -
in the wake of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft that are
in flight. Under certain atmospheric conditions, this
turbulent air can be projected to the ground and in
turn adversely affect fire behaviour. A small fire or
segment of a fire perimeter can unexpectedly
flareup, particularly if the wind speed is light and an
unstable atmosphere exists. Note Rotor Downwash.
W
Wetting Agent - A chemical that reduces the surface
tension of water causing it to spread and penetrate
more effectively.
Warm Front - Note Front.
Wildfire - An unplanned or unwanted natural or
Water Bombing - The act of dropping suppressants
human-caused fire, as contrasted with a prescribed
fire. Note Forest Fire
(water or short-term retardant) on a wildfire from an
aircraft in flight. Note Fire Bombing .
Wildland Urban Interface - A popular term used to
described an area where various structures (most
notably private homes) and other human
developments meet or are intermingled with forest
and other vegetative fuel types . Note Values-atRisk
Water Thief - A type of bleeder valve designed for
installation at convenient points in hose lines to
permit drawing off water for filling back-pack pumps
or other use without interfering with pump or nozzle
operation.
Wind Direction - The direction from which the wind is
Weather Map - See Synoptic Chart.
blowing. Wind direction is most commonly referred
to by cardinal direction (e.g. north, east, south, west)
but may also be expressed in degrees (i.e. 1?to
360?).
Weather Radar - A radar (contraction for radio
detection and ranging) device designed to operate
on certain radio frequency bands to detect the
presence (i.e. direction and distance) of
precipitation, clouds, or both. Some types of
weather radar are used to determine the amount of
precipitation and wind speed and direction.
Weather Station - Note Fire Weather Station.
Windfall - A tree or trees that have been uprooted or
broken off by wind, or an area of previously
standing timber that has been blown over by strong
winds or storms. Synonym - Blowdown.
Winds Aloft - A meteorological term referring to the
wind speeds and wind directions at various levels in
the atmosphere above the domain of surface weather
observations. The most common method of
determining the speed and direction of winds in the
upper air is by visually tracking a small free-lift
balloon. Note Minisonde and Rawinsonde
Observations.
Wet-bulb Depression - The difference between the
dry- and wet-bulb temperatures recorded by a
psychrometer. Recommended SI unit is degrees
Celsius (?C).
Wet-bulb
Temperature - Technically, the
temperature registered by the wet-bulb thermometer
of a psychrometer. It is the lowest temperature to
which the air can be cooled by evaporating water
into it at a constant atmospheric pressure.
Recommended SI unit is degrees Celsius (?C).
Wind Speed - The rate of horizontal motion of the air
past a given point expressed in terms of distance per
unit of time. In the Canadian Forest Fire Danger
Rating System and in fire weather forecasts , wind
speed is assumed to be measured or estimated at the
international standard height of 10 metres (m) in the
open on level terrain or at 10 m above a closed
vegetative canopy. If determined with an
anemometer, wind speed for fire management
purposes is normally averaged over a 10-minute
interval. Recommended SI unit is kilometres per hour
(km/h).
Wet-bulb Thermometer - In a psychrometer, the
thermometer whose bulb is covered with a jacket of
clean muslin which is saturated with distilled water
before an observation; measures wet-bulb
temperature once it is properly ventilated.
Wet Water - Water with added chemicals, called
wetting agents, that increase spreading and
penetrating properties of water by reducing its
surface tension.
Wind Vane - The general name for instruments
Glossary - 45 -
designed to indicate wind direction.
Wye –
without valves - A three-way hose line
accessory permitting two lines of hose to be
taken from a single supply line, with no
provisions to regulate stream flow. Note
Siamese without valves.
with valves - A three-way hose line accessory
permitting two lines of hose to be taken from a
single supply line. Valves located in the
discharge ports permit control of stream flow
or shutting off one or both discharge lines.
Note Siamese with valves.
Note: If fitted with instantaneous twist-lock
(unisex) couplings, a single accessory will
perform the functions of both a wye and a
siamese.
Z
Zone Weather Forecast - Note Fire Weather
Forecast.
Glossary - 46 -
Appendix I
SELECTED UNIT CONVERSION FACTORS*
If the SI units are:
Multiply by:
To obtain:
centimetres (cm)
0.39370
inches (in.)
degrees Celsius (°C)
5/9 (°F-32)
degrees Fahrenheit (°F)
grams per cubic centimetre (g/cm3)
62.428
Inverse Factor
2.54
(9/5°C) +32
pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft 3)
0.016018
hectares (ha)
2.4711
acres (ac)
0.40469
hectares per hour (ha/h)
2.4711
acres per hour (ac/hr)
0.40469
kilograms per cubic metre (kg/m3)
0.062428
pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft 3)
kilograms per square metre (kg/m2)
0.20482
pounds per square foot (lb/ft 2)
4.8824
kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg)
0.43021
Btu per pound (Btu/lb)
2.3244
kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg)
0.23901
calories per gram (cal/g)
4.184
kilometres (km)
0.62137
miles (mi)
1.6093
kilometres per hour (km/h)
0.62137
miles per hour (mi/hr)
1.6093
kilometres per hour (km/h)
0.53996
knots (Kt)
1.852
kilopascals (kPa)
0.29530
inches of mercury (in. Hg)
3.3864
millibars (mb)
0.1
kilopascals (kPa)
10.0
16.018
kilowatts per metre (kW/m)
0.28909
Btu per second per foot (Btu/sec/ft)
3.4592
kilowatts per metre (kW/m)
0.23901
kilocalories per second per metre (kcal/s/m)
4.184
metres (m)
0.049709
chains (ch)
metres (m)
3.2808
feet (ft)
0.3048
metres per minute (m/min)
3.2808
feet per minute (ft/min)
0.3048
metres per minute (m/min)
2.9826
chains per hour (ch/hr)
0.33528
millimetres (mm)
0.039370
inches (in.)
tonnes per hectare (t/ha)
0.44609
tons per acre (T/ac)
Glossary - 47 -
20.117
25.4
2.2417
Appendice II
TERMES FRANÇAIS EMPLOYÉS EN GESTION DU FEU EN FORÊT ET LEURS QUIVALENTS ANGLAIS*
FRENCH TERMS USED IN FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT AND THEIR ENGLISH QUIVALENTS*
A
Aéronef écopeur
Aéropointage
Aéropointeur
Agent extincteur
Agent mouillant
Alidade
Allumage
Allumage aérien
Allumage à angle
Allumage à contre vent
Allumage au flanc
Allumage au vent
Allumage central
Allumage par bandes
Allumage par points
Allumage périphérique
Altitude-densité
Altitude-pression
Analyse d’un feu échappé
Anémomètre
Anticyclone
Appel d’air
Approche finale
Arrière
Arrosage aérien
Asperseur
Atlas des incendies
Attaque
Attaque aérienne
Attaque initiale
Attaque initiale héliportée
Attaque terrestre
Averse
Avion-citerne
Avion d’aéropointage
Avion de détection
Azimut
Water Scooping Aircraft *
Birdogging *
Birdog Officer
Extinguishing Agent
Wetting Agent
Fire Finder
Ignition
Aerial Ignition
Angle Strip Ignition
Back Fire Ignition
Flank Fire Ignition
Head Fire Ignition
Centre Fire Ignition (Centre
Firing)
Strip Fire Ignition
Area Grid Ignition; Spot Ignition
Perimeter Fire Ignition
Density Altitude
Pressure Altitude
Escaped Fire Analysis
Anemometer
High Pressure System
Air Draft
Final Run
Back of a Fire ; Base, Heel or
Rear of a Fire
Fire Bombing ; Water Bombing
Sprinkler
Fire Atlas
Attack
Air Attack
Initial Attack
Helitack
Ground Attack (Attack by
Ground Forces)
Rain Shower
Airtanker ; Water Bomber
Birddog Aircraft
Detection Aircraft
Azimuth ; Bearing
B
Baguette hygroscopique
Baie
Ballon-pilote
Base d’attaque initiale
Base d’avion-citerne
Basse pression
Bordure
Brouillard
Bruine
Brûlage
Brûlage de nettoiement
Brûlage dirigé
Brûlage extensif
Brûlage préventif
*
*
Fuel Moisture Stick
Bay of a Fire ; Pocket of a Fire
Pilot Balloon
Initial Attack Base
Airtanker Base
Low Pressure System
Fire Perimeter
Fog
Drizzle
Burning ; Burn
Burning Off ; Burning Out
Prescribed Burning ; Prescribed
Fire
Broadcast Burning
Prescribed Fire aiming at
*
Reducing Fire Hazard
Brûleur
Brûleur pas gravité
Brûlis
Brûlis admissible
Brume
Brume sèche
Burning Torch
Drip Torch
Burned Area ; Burn
Allowable Burned Area
Fog
Haze
C
Camp de base
Carte de progression d’un
incendie
Carte synoptique
Catégories de feux
Feu de profondeur
Feu de surface
Feu de cime
Feu de cime dépendant
Feu de cime indépendant
Feu de cime intermittent
Feu de cime continu
Causes générales d’un
incendie de forêt
a) Foudre
b) Récréation
c) Résidants
d) Opérations forestières
e) Opérations industrielles
f) Chemin de fer
g) Incendiaire
h) Diverses
Certification
Chablis
Chaleur de combustion
Charge de combustible
Chef de la planification
Chef de lutte
Chef d’équipe
Chef de section
Chef des services
Chef de suppression
Chef de zone
Chicot
Cicatrice de feu
Circonscrire un incendie
Circuit d’inspection
Circuit guidé
Classe de superficie d’un
incendie
Classe d’indices
Clef à tuyau
Climatologie des incendies
Code d’alerte
Collecteur
Colonne de convection
Colonne de fumée
Combattant(s)
Combustible
Combustible étagé
Base Camp
Fire Progress Map
Synoptis Chart ; Weather Map
Types of Fire
Ground Fire ; Subsurface Fire
Surface Fire
Crown Fire
Active Crown Fire ; Dependent
Crown Fire
Independent Crown Fire
Intermittent Crown Fire
Continous Crown Fire
Fire Cause Class
Lightning
Recreation
Residents
Forest Industry
Other Industry
Railroads
Incendiary ; Arson
Miscellaneous
Certification
Windfall ; Blowdown
Heat of Combustion
Fuel Load
Plan Chief
Fire Boss
Crew Boss
Sector Boss
Service Chief
Suppression Boss
Division Boss
Snag ; Chicot
Fire Scar
Control a Fire (to)
Inspection Run
Lead-in
Fire Size Class
Fire Danger Class
Hose Key
Fire Climate
Alert Code
Wye ; Siamese
Convection Column
Smoke Column
Fire Fighter ; Extra Fire Fighter
(EFF)
Fuel
Ladder Fuels
Équival ent anglais approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent dans le glossaire anglais.
For French terms that have no equivalent in the English Glossary, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Combustible de cime
Combustible de profondeur
Combustible de surface
Combustible disponible
Combustible léger
Combustible lourd
Combustible moyen
Combustion
Comportement du feu
Comportement extrême d’un
incendie
Concept de largage à sortie
unique
Concept de largages successifs
Conditions de brûlage
Conditions d’un incendie
Nouveau
Hors contrôle
Contenu
Maîtrisé
Éteint
Sous observation
Conduction
Contre-feu
Convection
Coupe-feu
Courant-jet de basse altitude
Course de l’incendie
Crépine
Cycle de feu
Cycle journalier de brûlage
Crown Fuels
Ground Fuels
Surface Fuels
Available Fuel
Fine Fuels ; Flash Fuels
Coarse Fuels ; Heavy Fuels
Medium Fuels ; Intermediate
Fuels
Combustion
Fire Behaviour
Extreme Fire Behaviour
One Strike Concept
Litres of Water Per Hour Concept
Burning Conditions
Stages of Control
*
Newly Reported
Out of Control
Being Held
Under Control
Out
Being Observed
Conduction
Backfire
Convection
Fuelbreak ; Firebreak
Low-Level Jet Wind
Fire Run
Suction Hose Strainer
Fire Cycle
Burning Period
D
Danger d’incendie
Déchets de coupe
Découverte
Déflagration
Degré de fanage des herbacées
Densité anhydre du
combustible
Déploiement
Dépôt
Dépression
Description du combustible
Détection
Détection aérienne
Détermination des
combustibles typiques
Dispositif d’allumage aérien
Dispositif d’allumage aérien à
retardement
Disposition des combustibles
Diviseur
Doigt
Dommages
Fire Danger
Slash
Discovery
Flash-Over
Condition of Herbaceous
Vegetation
Fuel Bulk Density
Positioning *
Cache
Low Pressure System
Fuel Description
Detection ; Fire Detection
Aerial Detection
Fuel Appraisal
Aerial Ignition Device
Delayed Aerial Ignition Device
Fuel Arrangement
Siamese
Finger
Damages *
E
Eau mouillée
Échappée
Échelle de Beaufort
Écopage
Effet cumulatif de sécheresse
Effet de sol
Effet du feu
Élingue
En alerte
Équipe d’attaque initiale
Équipe de rappel
*
*
Wet Water
Breakover ; Slopover
Beaufort Wind Scale
Water Scooping Operation
Buildup
Ground Effect
Fire Effect
Sling
Standby
Initial Attack Crew
Rappel Crew
Équipe de suppression
Équipe d’intervention
soutenue
Équipe d’intervention
parachutée
Équipe héliportée
Équipement de combat pour
débusqueuse
État de préparation
Étrangleur à tuyau
Étude de feu
Évaluation des dommages
Évaluation du danger
d’incendie
Exposition
Extinction
Suppression Crew
Sustained Action Crew
Smokejumpers
Helitack Crew
Skidder Unit
Preparedness
Hose Strangler
Fire Analysis
Damage Appraisal
Fire Danger Rating
Aspect
Mop-up
F
Fausse alerte
Fausse fumée
Fermeture de la forêt
Feu
Feu à propagation libre
Feu contenu
Feu couvant
Feu de cime
Feu de cime continu
Feu de cime dépendant
Feu de cime indépendant
Feu de cime intermittent
Feu de forêt
Feu de foudre
Feu d’envergure
Feu de profondeur
Feu de surface
Feu de végétation
Feu d’herbes
Feu d’origine humaine
Feu d’origine naturelle
Feu disséminant
Feu disséminé
Feu échappé
Feu en activité
Feu éteint
Feu hibernant
Feu hors-contrôle
Feu maîtrisé
Feu nouveau
Feu rampant
Feu roulant
Feu sous observation
Filet
Flambée
Flambée en chandelle
Flambée explosive
Flanc
Solution mouillante
Foudre sèche
Foyer d’incendie
Foyer initial
Fraction des cimes consumées
(FCC)
Fréquence des feux
Front
Front chaud
Front froid
Fumée
False Alarm
False Smoke
Forest Closure
Fire
Free-Burning Fire
Being Held Fire
Smouldering Fire
Crown Fire
Active Crown Fire
Dependent Crown Fire
Independent Crown Fire
Intermittent Crown Fire
Wildfire
Lighting Fire
Campaign Fire; Project Fire
Ground Fire
Surface Fire
Forest Fire
Grass Fire
Human-caused Fire ; Man-caused
Fire
Natural Fire
Spotting Fire
Spot Fire
Escaped Fire
Active Fire (Fire Between its
*
Ignition and its Final Extinction
Out
Overwintering Fire
Out of Control
Under Control
*
Newly Reported Fire
Creeping (Fire)
Running Fire
Being observed
Cargo Net
Flareup
Candle ; Candling
Blowup
Flank of a Fire
Wetting solution
Dry Lighting
Hot Spot
Point(s) of Origin
Crown Fraction Burn (CFB)
Fire Frequency
Front ; Front of a Fire
Warm Front
Cold Front
Smoke
Équivalent français approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent dans le glossaire français.
For English terms that have no equivalent in the French Glossary, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Fumée intermittente
Fumée légitime
Fumée traînante
Intermittent Smoke
Legitimate Smoke
Drift Smoke
G
Gestion de la fumée
Gestion des combustibles
Gestion du feu
Groupe de commandement
Smoke Management
Fuel Management
Fire Management
Fire Overhead
H
Haute pression
Hauteur de flamme
Hauteur de largage
Hauteur statique à la lance
Hauteur statique d’aspiration
Hélico-citerne
Héliport
Heliport temporaire
Hélitorche
Historique des feux
Humidité relative
Humus
Hygromètre
High Pressure System
Flame Height
Drop Height
Static Discharge Head
Static Suction Lift
Helitanker
Heliport ; Helipad
Helispot
Helitorch
Fire History
Relative Humidity
Duff
Hygrometer
I
Ignifugation
Îlot résiduel
Imagerie thermique
Impact du feu
Impact économique d’un
incendie
Incendiaire
Incendie à intervention limitée
Incendie à intervention
maximale
Incendie d’envergure
Incendie de forêt
Incendies multiples (situation
d’)
Inclinaison de la flamme
Indice de gravité
Indice de l’humus (IH)
Indice de propagation initiale
(IPI)
Indice de sécheresse (IS)
Indice du combustible
disponible (ICD)
Indice du combustible léger
(ICL)
Indice Forêt -Météo (IFM)
Indice journalier de sévérité
(IJS)
Indice saisonnier de sévérité
(ISS)
Inflammabilité
Intensité du feu
Intervalle des feux
Intervention initiale
Inversion
Isobare
Fire Proofing
Island (s)
Thermal Imagery
Fire Impact(s)
Fire Effects Value Appraisal
Incendiary
Limited Action Fire ; Modified
Response Fire
Full Response Fire
Campaign Fire ; Project Fire
Wildfire
Multiple Fire Situation
Flame Angle
Gravity Index
Duff Moisture Code (DMC)
Initial Spread Index (ISI)
Drought Code (DC)
Buildup Index (BUI)
Fine Fuel Moisture Code
(FFMC)
Fire Weather Index (FWI)
Daily Severity Rating (DSR)
Seasonal Severety Rating (SSR)
Flammability
Fire Intensity
Fire Interval
Initial Action
Inversion
Isobar
J
K
L
Lance
Lance de profondeur
Lance-flammes
*
*
Nozzle
Ground Probe ; Probe
Flame Thrower
Largage
Largage assisté
Largage partiel
Largage séquentiel
Largage total
Largeur de la bande enflammée
Laveur de tuyaux
Ligne d’arrêt
Ligne de feu
Ligne de grain
Ligne de suppression
Ligne de tuyaux
Ligne échappée
Ligne maintenue
Litière
Localisateur de ligne de
suppression
Logistique de feu
Longueur de flamme
Drop
Called Shot
Partial Drop
String Drop
Salvo Drop
Flame Depth
Hose Washer
Fireguard
Fireline
Squall Line
Control Line
Hose-lay
Lost Line
Held Line
Litter
Line Locator
Fire Logistics
Flame Lenght
M
Maîtrise
Maîtriser un incendie
Manchon d’obturation
Masse d’air
Méthode canadienne de
l’Indice Forêt-Météo
(MCIFM)
Méthode canadienne de
prévision du comportement
des incendies de forêts
(MCPCIF)
Méthode canadienne
d’évaluation des dangers
d’incendie de forêt (MCEDIF)
Méthode de suppression
Attaque directe
Attaque indirecte
Attaque parallèle
Attaque des points
menaçants
Prospection des points
chauds
Mini-sonde
Mode d’allumage
Modes de propagation de la
chaleur
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Transport de tisons
Motopompe
Mousse
Aspirer
Concentré moussant
Couverture de mousse
Inducteur
Lance ajustable
Lance ventilée
Mélanger
Mousse à expansion faible
Mousse à expansion
moyenne
Mousse de classe A
Mousse de classe B
Mousse humide
Mousse mouillée
Mousse sèche
Régulateur
Réservoir à mélange
Solution moussante
Under Control
Control a Fire
Hose Sleeve
Air Mass
Canadian Forest Fire Weather
Index (FWI) System
Canadian Forest Fire Behavior
Prediction (FBP) System
Canadian Forest Fire Danger
Rating System (CFFDRS)
Fire Suppression Methods
Direct Attack
Indirect Attack
Parallel Attack
Hot Spotting
Cold Trai ling
Minisonde
Ignition Source
Heat Transfer
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Spotting
Fire Pump ; Power Pump
Foam
Aspirate
Foam Concentrate
Foam Blanket
Eductor
Combination Nozzle;
Adjustable Fog Nozzle
Aspirating Nozzle
Batch Mix
Low Expansion Foam
Medium Expansion Foam
Class A Foam
Class B Foam
Dripping Foam
Wet Foam
Dry Foam
Proportioner
Batch Mixer
Foam Solution
Équivalent français approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent dans le glossaire français.
For English terms that have no equivalent in the French Glossary, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Taux de drainage
Temps de drainage
Tension superficielle
Drainage Rate
Drainage Time
Surface Tension
Point d’inflammation
N
O
Observation par ballon-pilote
Observation par mini-sonde
Occurrence de feu
Orage
Pilot Balloon Observation
Minisonde Observation
Fire Occurrence
Thunderstorm
P
Parterre forestier
Parties d’un feu
Arrière
Baie
Bordure
Doigt
Flanc
Foyer initial
Îlot résiduel
Tête
Passe à blanc
Passe simulée
Patron d’allumage
Allumage à angle
Allumage à contre-vent
Allumage au flanc
Allumage au vent
Allumage central
Allumage par points
Allumage par bandes
Allumage périphérique
Patrouiller
Pelle à incendie
Périmètre
Période d’alerte
Période optimale de brûlage
Période de patrouille
Période d’extinction active
Période d’intervention
a) Période de découverte
b) Période du rapport
c) Période de départ
d) Période de déplacement
e) Période de réponse
f) Période de maîtrise
g) Période d’extinction
active
h) Période de patrouille
Période(s) standards
d’intervention
Perte de pression
Peuplement forestier
Phases de combat
Attaque initiale
Action soutenue
Maîtrise
Extinction
Plan de combat
Plan de gestion du feu
Plan de présuppression
Plan de suppression
Plan d’organisation
Planification de la gestion du
feu
Pluviomètre
Point chaud
*
*
Point d’ancrage
Point de rosée
Forest Floor
Parts of a Forest Fire
Back
Bay
Fire Edge
Finger
Flank
Point of Origin
Island
Head
Dry Run
Dummy Run
Ignition Pattern
Angle Strip Ignition
Back Fire Ignition
Flank Fire Ignition
Head Fire Ignition
Centre Fire Ignition ; Centre
Firing
Area Grid Ignition
Strip Fire Ignition
Perimeter Fire Ignition ;
Perimeter Firing
Patrol
Fire Shovel
Fire Perimeter
Period of Alert
Burning Period
Patrol Time
Mop-up Time
Elapsed Time
Discovery Time
Report Time
Get-Away Time
Travel Time
Response Time
Control Time
Mop-up Time
Patrol Time
Elapsed Time Standards
Hose Friction Loss
Cover Type
*
Stages of Suppression
Initial Attack
Sustained Action
Control
Mop-up
Fire Suppression Plan
Fire Management Plan
Preattack Plan
Fire Suppression Plan
Fire Management Plan
Fire Management Planning
Rain Gauge
Hot Spot
Point d’observation
Point menaçant
Pompe centrifuge
Pompe manuelle
Potentiel d’incendie
Prescription de brûlage
Présuppression
Prévention
Profondeur de brûlage
Proportion annuelle brûlée
Psychromètre
Pulaski
Pyrologie forestière
Anchor Point
Dew Point ; Dew-Point
Temperature
Ignition Temperature ; Kindling
Point
Lookout
Hot Spot
Centrifugal Pump
Hand Pump
Fire Hazard
Burning Prescription
Presuppression
Prevention
Depth of Burn
Fire Frequency
Psychrometer
Pulaski
Forest Fire Science
Q
R
Raccord d’aboutement
Raccordement en parallèle
Raccordement en série
Raccordement en sérieparallèle
Radiation
Rappel
Rapport de la situation
Rapport d’incendie
Râteau Rich
Rebrûlage
Reconnaissance d’un incendie
Régime des feux
Rémanents
Réservoir portatif
Réservoir amovible
Réservoir héliporté
Réservoir-relais
Résistance à la suppression
Responsable du mélange
Ressources auxiliaires
Retardant
Retardant à court terme
Retardant à long terme
Rhéologie
Risque d’incendie
Danger d’incendie
Conséquence d’un incendie
Probabilité d’allumage
Valeurs à protéger
Roussissement des cimes
*
Tandem Coupling
Parallel Hook-up*
*
Tandem Hook-up
Parallel-Tandem Hook-up
Radiation
Rappel
Situation Report ; Sitrep
Fire Report
Rich Tool
Reburn
Fire Scouting
Fire Regime
Slash
Back-Pack Pump ; BackTank ; Pack Pump
Slip-on Tank
Helibucket
Relay Tank
Resistance to Control
Mixmaster
Extra or Emergency Fire Fighters
(EFF)
Fire Retardant
Short-term Retardant
Long-term Retardant
Rheology
Risk from Wildfire
Fire Danger
Fire Damage
Probability of Ignition*
Values-at-Risk
Crown Scorch
S
Sac à tuyaux
Saison de feux
Saison de protection
Secteur
Section
Sévérité du feu
Siamoise
Siamoise renversée
Siamoise réversible
Simulateur de feu
Solution mouillante
Sondage thermométrique par
*
Hose Bag
Fire Season
Fire Season
Sector
*
Sector
Fire Severity
Siamese ; Wye
(See : Siamese ; Wye)
(See : Siamese ; Wye)
Fire Simulator
Wet Water
Helicopter Sounding
Équivalent français approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent dans le glossaire français.
For English terms that have no equivalent in the French Glossary, an approximate term or explanation is given.
hélicoptère
Souffle du rotor
Source d’allumage
Spécialiste en comportement
du feu
Stabilité atmosphérique
Stade d’organisation des
opérations de combat
Stratégie
Structure de commandement
Chef de lutte
Chef d’équipe
Chef de section
Chef des services
Chef de zone
Chef de la planification
Chef de suppression
Subsidence
Suppression
Surfactant
Système d’aide à la décision
en gestion du feu
Système de localisation de la
foudre
Rotor Downwash
*
Fire Cause
Fire Behavior Officer
Atmospheric Stability
Size and/or Complexity of Fire
Fighting Operation (Related to
*
Fire Overhead)
Strategy
Fire Overhead
Fire Boss
Crew Boss
Sector Boss
*
Service Chief
Division Boss
*
Plans Chief
Suppression Boss ; Line Boss
Subsidence
Suppression
Surfactant ; Wetting Agent
Fire Management Decision
Support System
Lightning Locator System
T
Tactique
Taille des feux
Tandem
Taux d’accroissement de la
superficie
Taux d’accroissement du
périmètre
Techniques de guidage
Circuit d’inspection
Circuit guidé
Largage assisté
Passe simulée
Tempête de feu
Temps de combustion
Temps de passage
Temps de séchage type
Teneur en humidité du
combustible
Terratorche
*
*
Tactics
Fire Size
Tandem
Rate of Area Growth
Rate of Perimeter Growth
Water-Bomber Guiding
Techniques Inspection Run
Lead-in
Called Shot
Dummy Run
Fire Storm
Burn-Out Time
Residence Time
Timelag
Fuel Moisture Content
Territoire fermé
Tête
Thermographe
Thermovision (appareil de)
Tison
Tourbillon de feu
Tour d’observation
Traitement des combustibles
Tranchée
Transport de tisons
Triangle du comportement du
feu
Triangle du feu
Turbulence de sillage
Tuyau à incendie
Tuyau d’aspiration
Type de combustible
Closed Area
Head
Thermograph
Infrared Scanner
Firebrand
Fire Whirl ; Fire Whirlwind
Fire Tower, Lookout Tower
Fuel Treatment
Gutter Trench
Spotting
Fire Behavior Triangle
Fire Triangle
Vortex Turbulence
Hose
Suction Hose
Fuel Type
U
V
Valeurs à protéger
Vent
Au vent
À contre-vent ou sous le
vent
Vérification manuelle de
l’extinction
Viscosité
Visées croisées
Vitesse de propagation
Voie d’évacuation
Voleur d’eau
Values -at-Risk
Wind
With the Wind*
*
Against the Wind
Cold Trailing
Viscosity
Cross Bearings
Rate of Spread
*
Escape Route
Water Thief
W
X
Y
Z
Zone
Zone de largage
Zone de sensibilité à la fumée
Division
Drop Zone
Smoke Sensitive Area
*
Terra-Torch
Équivalent français approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent dans le glossaire français.
For English terms that have no equivalent in the French Glossary, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Appendice III
ENGLISH TERMS USED IN FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT AND THEIR FRENCH EQUIVALENTS*
TERMES ANGLAIS EMPLOYÉS EN GESTION DU FEU EN FORÊT ET LEURS ÉQUIVALENTS FRANÇAIS*
A
Abort
Active Crown Fire
Aerial Detection
Aerial Detection Observer
Aerial Fuels
Aerial Ignition
Aerial Ignition Device (AID)
Air Attack
Air Attack Boss
Air Attack Officer
Air Cargo
Air Mass
Air Operations Officer
Airtanker
Airtanker Base
Air Temperature
Allowable Burned Area
Anchor Point
Anemometer
Angled Strip Ignition
Area Grid Ignition
Area Ignition
Area Weather Forecast
Aspect
Aspirate
Aspirating Nozzle
Atmospheric Pressure
Atmospheric Stability
Neutral Atmosphere
Stable Atmosphere
Unstable Atmosphere
Attack
Attack Centre
Attack Time
Automatic Lightning Detection
System
Available Fuel
Axe, fi re
Annuler (une manœuvre) *
Feu de cime continu; Feu de
cime dépendant
Détection aérienne
Observateur aérien
Combustible de cime *
Allumage aérien
Dispositif d'allumage aérien
Attaque aérienne
Chef de l’attaque aérienne *
Officier d’attaque aérienne *
Cargaison aérienne
Masse d'air
Chef des opérations aériennes*
Avion-citerne
Base d'avion-citerne
Température de l'air *
Brûlis admissible
Point d'ancrage
Anémomètre
Allumage à angle
Allumage par points
Allumage d’une surface *
Prévision météorologique par
zone *
Exposition
Aspirer
Lance ventilée
Pression atmosphérique
Stabilité atmosphérique
Atmosphère neutre
Atmosphère stable
Atmosphère instable
Attaque
Poste de protection
Temps de l'attaque
Système de détection de la foudre
Combustible disponible
Hache
B
Being Patrolled
Belt Weather Kit
Birddog Aircraft
Blowdown
Blowup
Board of Review
Breakover (Fire)
Bridge Fuels
Broadcast Burning
Bucker
Buildup
Buildup Index
Burning Conditions
Burning Off
Burning Out (Burnout)
Burning Period
Burning Prescription
Burn or Burned Area
Burn-out Time
Bust (Fire)
Byram's Fireline Intensity
Au stade de l’extinction finale*
Trousse portative d'instruments
météorologiques
Avion d'aéropointage
Chablis
Flambée explosive
Comité d'étude *
Échappée
Combustibles distribués de façon
continue(verticalement)*
Brûlage extensif
Préposé au tronçonnage d’arbres
abattus ou tombés*
Développement progressif des
facteurs propices aux incendies
forestiers *
Indice du combustible disponible
Conditions de brûlage;
Conditions de combustion
Brûlage de nettoiement
Brûlage de nettoiement
Cycle journalier de brûlage
Prescription de brûlage
Brûlis; superficie brûlée
Temps de combustion
Incendies multiples (situation de)
*
Intensité du front de feu selon
Byram *
C
Campaign Fire
Canadian Forest Fire Behaviour
Prediction (FBP) System
Canadian Forest Fire Danger
Rating System (CFFDRS)
Canadian Forest Fire Weather
Index (FWI) System
Fine Fuel Moisture Code
(FFMC)
Duff Moisture Code (DMC)
Drought Code (DC)
Initial Spread Index (ISI)
Incendie d'envergure
Méthode canadienne de prévision
du comportement des incendies
de forêt (MCPCIF)
Méthode canadienne d'évaluation
des dangers d'incendie de forêt
(MCEDIF)
Méthode canadienne de l'Indice
Forêt-Météo (MCIFM)
Indice du combustible léger
(ICL)
Indice de l'humus (IH)
Indice de sécheresse (IS)
Indice de propagation initiale
(IPI)
Indice du combustible
disponible (ICD)
Indice Forêt-Météo (IFM
Flambée en chandelle
Largage ou parachutage d'un ou
de plusieurs ballot(s) *
Filet
Allumage central
Backfire
Contre-feu
Backfire Ignition
Allumage à contre vent
Buildup Index (BUI)
Backfiring (Backfired)
Utilisation d'un contre-feu *
Back of a Fire
Arrière d'un feu
Fire Weather Index (FWI)
Back-pack Pump
Réservoir portatif
Candle or Candling
Back Tank
Réservoir portatif
Cargo Dropping
Barometric Pressure
Pression barométrique
Base Camp
Camp de base
Cargo Net
Base of a Fire
Arrière d'un feu
Centre Fire Ignition (Centre
Batch Mix
Mélanger
Firing)
Batch Mixer
Réservoir à mélange
Centrifugal Pump
Pompe centrifuge
Bay(s) of a Fire
Baie(s) d'un feu
Certification
Certification
Beaufort Wind Scale
Échelle de Beaufort
Charcoal Phase of Combustion
Phase de combustion du charbon
*
Being Held
Contenu
Charged Line
Ligne de tuyau remplie d'eau et
Being Observed
Sous observation
*
Équivalent français approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent dans le glossaire français.
*
For English terms that have no equivalent in the French Glossary, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Chevron Ignition
Chicot
Class of Fire
Closed Area
Coarse Fuels
Cold Front
Cold Trailing
Combustion
Preheating Phase
Distillation or Gaseous Phase
Charcoal or Solid Phase
Commissary
Condition of Herbaceous
Vegetation
Conduction
Conflagration
Constant flow tank system
Control a Fire
Out of Control
Being Held
Being Observed
Under Control
Being Patrolled
Out
Control Line
Control Time
Convection
Convection Burning
Convection Column
Coupling, quick-connect,
external lug
Cover Type
Coverage Level
Creeping (Fire)
Crew Boss
Crew Foreman
Cross Bearings
Crossover
Cross Shots
Crown Fire
Crown Fraction Burned
Crown Fuels
Crown Scorch
Crowning
Cupola
sous pression *
Allumage en chevrons *
Chicot
Catégorie d’incendies en fonction
de la dimension *
Territoire fermé
Combustible lourd
Front froid
Prospection des braises
Combustion
Phase de préchauffage
Phase de combustion des gaz
Phase de combustion du
charbon
Articles de dépannage *
Degré de fanage des herbacées
Conduction
Conflagration *
Réservoir dont le contenu peut
être libéré graduellement *
Maîtriser un incendie
Hors-contrôle
Contenu
Sous observation
Maîtrisé
Au stade de l’extinction finale
*
Éteint
Ligne de suppression
Période de maîtrise
Convection
Brûlage dirigé par la convection
(voir: allumage central) *
Colonne de convection
Raccordement instantanné à ergot
externe *
Peuplement forestier
Volume d’eau ou de produit
chimique par unité de superficie
de combustible *
Feu rampant
Chef d'équipe
Chef d'équipe
Visées croisées
Condition où l’humidité relative
est moindre que, où égale à la
température de l’air *
Visées croisées
Feu de cime
Fraction des cimes consumées
Combustible de cime
Roussissement des cimes
(Feu) qui monte en cime *
Cabine (de tour d'observation)
D
Daily Severity Rating
Damage Appraisal
Danger Tree
Day Basing
Delayed Aerial Ignition Device
(DAID)
Density Altitude
Dependent Crown Fire
Depth of Burn (DOB)
Detection
Detection Aircraft
Detection Pattern
Dew Point or Dew-point
Temperature (DP)
Dew-point Spread
*
*
Indice journalier de sévérité
Évaluation des dommages
Arbre dangereux
Déploiement journalier *
Dispositif d'allumage aérien à
retardement *
Altitude-densité
Feu de cime dépendant
Profondeur de brûlage
Détection
Avion de détection
Circuit de détection aérienne
Point de rosée
Déficit du point de rosée
Difficulty of Control
Direct Attack
Direction Finder
Discharge Head
Discovery
Discovery Time
Distillation Phase of
Combustion
Division
Division Boss
Division Foreman
Downloading
Drift
Drift Smoke
Drip Torch
Drop Height
Drop Zone
Drought
Drought Code
Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate
(DALR)
Dry-bulb Temperature
Dry-bulb Thermometer
Dry Lightning Storm
Duff
Duff Moisture Code
Dummy Run
Difficulté à maîtriser un incendie
*
Attaque directe
Analyseur de direction (partie
d’un détecteur de foudre) *
Différence d'élévation entre la
motopompe et la lance *
Découverte
Période de découverte
Phase de combustion des gaz
Zone
Chef de zone
Chef de zone
Réduction du poids maximum de
l'avion au décollage à cause de
l'augmentation de l'altitudedensité, de la longueur réduite
de la piste, ou pour d'autres
raisons *
Dérive
Fumée traînante
Brûleur par gravité
Hauteur de largage
Zone visée lors d’un largage*
Sécheresse
Indice de sécheresse
Gradient adiabatique sec
Température du thermomètre sec
Thermomètre sec
Orage qui produit de la foudre
sèche *
Humus
Indice de l'humus
Passe simulée
E
Elapsed Time
Discovery Time
Report Time
Get-Away Time
Travel Time
Attack Time
Control Time
Mop-up Time
Patrol Time
Elapsed Time Standards
Electrical Storm
Ember Transport
Période d’intervention
Période de découverte
Période du rapport
Période de départ
Période de déplacement
Période de réponse
Période de la maîtrise
Période d'extinction active
Période de patrouille
Périodes standards d’intervention
Orage
Transport de cendres ardentes*
Situation d’encerclement, pris au
Entrapment
piège *
Equilibrium Moisture Content
Teneur en humidité au point
(EMC)
d'équilibre
Equipment tracking
Suivi de l’équipement *
Escaped Fire
Feu échappé
Escaped Fire Analysis
Analyse d'un feu échappé
Excursion
Superficie brûlée en trop *
Extended Fire Severity
Gravité extrême et pour plusieurs
semaines d’une situation
d’incendies *
Extra or Emergency Fire Fighters Ressources auxiliaires
(EFF)
Comportement extrême d’un
Extreme Fire Behaviour
incendie
F
False Smoke
Feller
Final Run
Fine Fuel Moisture Code
Fine Fuels
Équivalent anglais approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent anglais en usage.
For French terms that have no English equivalent, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Fausse fumée
Abatteur
Approche finale
Indice du combustible léger
Combustible léger
Finger(s) of a Fire
Fire
Fire Analysis
Fire Atlas
Fire Behaviour
Smouldering
Creeping
Running
Torch or Torching
Spotting
Crowning
Fire Behaviour Officer
Fire Behaviour Triangle
Fire Benefit(s)
Fire Bombing
Fire Boss
Firebrand
Firebreak
Fire Bust
Fire Cause Class
Lightning
Recreation
Resident
Forest Industry
Other Industry
Railroads
Incendiary
Miscellaneous
Fire Climate
Fire Control
Fire Control Line
Fire Control Plan
Fire Cooperator
Fire Crew
Fire Cycle
Fire Damage(s)
Fire Danger
Fire Danger Class
Fire Danger Index
Fire Danger Rating
Fire Dependent Ecosystems
Fire Detection
Fire Ecology
Fire Edge
Fire Effect(s)
Fire Effects Value Appraisal
Fire Environment
Fire Environment Triangle
Fire Equipment Cache
Fire Finder
Fire Finder Map
Fire Foreman
Fire Frequency
Fire Front
Fireguard
Fire Hazard
Fire History
Fire Impact(s)
Fire Incidence
Fire Intensity
Fire Interval
Fireline
Fireline Camp
*
*
Doigt(s) d'un feu
Feu
Étude de feu
Atlas des incendies
Comportement du feu
Couvant
Rampant
Roulant
Flambée en chandelle
Qui se dissémine
De cime
Spécialiste en comportement du
feu
Triangle du comportement du feu
Aspect(s) bénéfique(s) du feu*
Arrosage aérien
Chef de lutte
Tison
Coupe-feu
Incendies multiples (situation de)
Causes générales d'un incendie de
forêt
Foudre
Récréation
Résidants
Opérations forestières
Opérations industrielles
Chemins de fer
Incendiaire
Diverses
Climatologie des incendies
Protection des forêts contre le feu
Ligne de suppression
Plan de combat; plan de
suppression
Collaborateur *
Équipe de suppression
Cycle de feu
Dommage(s) causés par le feu
Danger d’incendie
Classe d'indices
Indice de danger d’incendie *
Évaluation du danger d'incendie
Écosystèmes dépendants du feu
Détection; Détection des
incendies
Écologie relative au feu en forêt *
Périphérie du feu
Effet(s) du feu
Impact économique d’un
incendie
Conditions de brûlage
Triangle du feu
Dépôt d'outillage
Alidade
Carte de localisation des
incendies de forêt
Chef de lutte
Fréquence des feux; Proportion
annuelle brûlée
Front
Ligne d’arrêt
Potentiel d’incendie
Historique des feux
Impact du feu
Nombre moyen d’incendies sur
une superficie donnée par
intervalle de temps donné *
Intensité du feu
Intervalle des feux
Ligne de feu
Campement près de la ligne de
Fire Load
Fire Logistics
Fire Management
Fire Management Decision
Support System
Fire Management Plan
Fire Management Planning
Fire Occurrence
Fire Overhead
Fire Boss
Suppression Boss
Division Boss
Sector Boss
Crew Boss
Plans Function
Service Function
Fire Perimeter
Fire Plough
Fire Post Mortem
Fire Presuppression
Fire Prevention
Fire Progress Map
Fireproofing
Fire Protection Plan
Fire Pump
Fire Rake
Fire Regime
Fire Report
Fire Retardant
Fire Run
Fire Scar
Fire Scouting
Fire Season
Fire Severity
Fire Severity Measures
Fire Shovel
Fire Simulator
Fire Situation Map
Fire Size Class
Fire Squad
Fire Storm
Fire Superintendent
Fire Suppression
Direct Attack
Parallel Attack
Indirect Attack
Hot Spotting
Cold Trailing
Mop-up
Fire Suppression Plan
Fire Tool Cache
Fire Tower
Fire Triangle
Fire Type
Fire Use
Fire Weather
Fire Weather Forecast
Fire Weather Index
Équivalent anglais approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent anglais en usage.
For French terms that have no English equivalent, an approximate term or explanation is given.
feu *
Charge de travail relative aux
incendies forestiers actifs ou
prévus *
Logistique du feu
Gestion du feu
Système d’aide à la décision
dans le domaine de la gestion du
feu *
Plan de gestion du feu *
Planification de la gestion du feu
*
Occurrence de feu
Structure de commandement ;
Groupe de commandement
Chef de lutte
Chef de suppression
Chef de zone
Chef de section
Chef d'équipe
Planification
Services
Périmètre du feu
Charrue à incendie *
Étude de feu
Pré Suppression
Prévention
Carte de la progression d'un feu
Ignifugation
Plan de combat; Plan de
suppression
Motopompe
Râteau Rich
Régime des feux
Rapport d'incendie
Retardant
Course de l’incendie
Cicatrice de feu
Reconnaissance d'un incendie
Saison des feux; Saison de
protection
Sévérité du feu
Mesures de la sévérité du feu
Pelle à incendie
Simulateur de feu
Carte de distribution des
incendies
Classe de superficie d’un
incendie
Équipe de suppression
Tempête de feu
Chef de lutte
Suppression
Attaque directe
Attaque parallèle
Attaque indirecte
Attaque des points menaçants
Prospection des braises
Extinction finale
Plan de combat; Plan de
suppression
Dépôt d'outillage
Tour d'observation
Triangle du feu
Peuplement d'origine de feu
Utilisation du feu
Conditions météorologiques
propices aux incendies forestiers
Prévisions Forêt -Météo relatives
aux incendies forestiers
Indice Forêt -Météo
Fire Weather Station
Fire Weather Station Network
Station météorologique
Réseau de stations
météorologiques
Fire Whirl or Fire Whirlwind
Tourbillon de feu
Flame Angle
Inclinaison de la flamme
Flame Depth
Largeur de la bande enflammée
Flame Height
Hauteur de flamme
Flame Length
Longueur de flamme
Flaming Combustion
Combustion accompagnée de
flammes *
Flaming Front
Front de flammes
Flammability
Inflammabilité
Flank Fire
Feu de flanc *
Flank Fire Ignition
Allumage au flanc
Flanks of a Fire
Flancs d'un feu
Flareup
Flambée
Flash Fuels
Combustible léger; Combustible
critique
Flash-over
Déflagration
Type d’appareil de thermovision
F.L.I.R.
monté sur un avion *
Foam
Mousse
Aspirate
Aspirer
Aspirating Nozzle
Lance ventilée
Batch Mix
Mélanger
Batch Mixer
Réservoir de mélange
Class A Foam
Mousse de classe A
Class B Foam
Mousse de classe B
Combination nozzle
Lance ajustable
Compressed Air Foam System
Système servant à fabriquer de
(CAFS)
la mousse à l’aide d’air
comprimé *
“Dripping” foam
Mousse humide
Dry Foam
Mousse sèche
Eductor
Inducteur
Foam Blanket
Couverture de mousse
Foam Concentrate
Concentré moussant
Foam Generation
Fabrication de la mousse
Foam Solution
Solution moussante
Low Expansion
Expansion faible
Medium Expansion
Expansion moyenne
Mix Ratio
Proportion du mélange
Surface Tension
Tension superficielle
Wet Foam
Mousse mouillée
Follow Up
Support à l'attaque initiale *
Forest Closure
Fermeture de la forêt
Forest Fire
Feu en forêt; Feu de végétation
Forest Fire, types of
Catégories de feu
Ground Fire
Feu de profondeur
Surface Fire
Feu de surface
Crown Fire
Feu de cime
Intermittent Crown Fire
Feu de cime intermittent
Active Crown Fire
Feu de cime dépendant; feu de
cime continu
Independent Crown Fire
Feu de cime indépendant
Forest Fire, parts of
Parties d'un feu
Bay(s)
Baie(s)
Finger(s)
Doigt(s)
Flanks
Flancs
Head
Tête
Back
Arrière
Island(s)
Îlot(s) résiduels
Point(s) of Origin
Foyer initial
Forest Fire Management
Gestion du feu en forêt
Forest Floor
Parterre forestier
Forest Industry Fire
Feu d'opérations forestières
Forest Protection
Protection des forêts
Forwarder Unit
Unité amovible pour
débusqueuse
Feu ou partie de feu qui brûle en
Free-burning
toute liberté *
Front
Front
Frontal Fire Intensity
Intensité du feu; Intensité du front
*
*
Front of a Fire
Fuel Appraisal
Fuel Arrangement
Fuelbreak
Fuel Bulk Density
Fuel Complex
Fuel Load
Fuel Management
Fuel Moisture Content
Fuel Moisture Sticks
Fuel Treatment
Fuel Type
de flammes
Front; Tête du feu
Détermination des combustibles
typiques
Disposition des combustibles
Coupe-feu
Densité anhydre du combustible
Agencement du combustible
Charge de combustible
Gestion des combustibles
Teneur en humidité du
combustible
Baguette hygroscopique
Traitement des combustibles
Type de combustible
G
Gaseous Phase of Combustion
Geographic Information System
(GIS)
Get-Away Time
Global Positioning System
(GPS)
Glowing Combustion
Going Fire
Green Up
Ground Effect
Ground Fire
Ground Fuels
Ground Probe
Gutter Trench
Phase de combustion des gaz *
Système d’information
géographique (SIG)*
Période de départ
Système mondial de
positionnement (GPS)*
Combustion couvante *
Feu en activité
Feuillaison printanière *
Effet de sol
Feu de profondeur
Combustible de profondeur
Lance de profondeur
Tranchée
H
Hazard Reduction
Haze
Head Fire
Head Fire Ignition
Head of a Fire
Heat of Combustion
Heat Transfer
Convection
Radiation
Conduction
Heavy Fuels
Heavy Helicopter
Heel of a Fire
Held Line
Helibucket
Helicopter Sounding
Helipad
Heliport
Helispot
Helitack
Helitack Crew
Helitank
Helitanker
Helitorch
Holdover Fire
Hook, Cargo
Hose
Hose Friction Loss
Hose Key
Hose-lay
Hose Strangler
Hose Washer
Hot Spot
Équivalent anglais approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent anglais en usage.
For French terms that have no English equivalent, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Réduction du danger d’incendie
Brume sèche
Feu sous le vent (ou suivant la
pente) *
Allumage au vent
Tête d'un feu
Chaleur de combustion
Mode de propagation de la
chaleur
Convection
Radiation
Conduction
Combustible lourd
Hélicoptère lourd
Arrière d'un feu
Ligne maintenue
Réservoir héliporté
Sondage thermométrique par
hélicoptère
Héliport
Héliport
Héliport temporaire
Attaque initiale héliportée *
Équipe héliportée *
Citerne héliportée *
Hélico-citerne
Hélitorche
Feu dormant
Crochet fixé à un hélicoptère
auquel l’on attache une charge
externe *
Tuyau à incendie
Perte de pression
Clef à tuyau
Ligne de tuyaux
Étrangleur à tuyau
Laveur les tuyaux
Point chaud; Point menaçant
Hot Spotting
Human-caused Fire
Humidity
Humidity Sensor
Hygrograph
Hygrometer
Hygrothermograph
Action limitée aux points chauds
*
Feu de causes humaines
Humidité
Dispositif de mesure de
l'humidité *
Hygrographe *
Hygromètre
Hydrothermographe *
I
Ignition
Ignition Pattern
Angled Strip Ignition
Area Ignition
Area Grid Ignition
Backfire Ignition
Centre Fire Ignition (Centre
Firing)
Flank Fire Ignition
Head Fire Ignition
Maple Leaf Ignition
Perimeter Fire Ignition
(Perimeter Firing)
Strip Fire Ignition
Ignition Temperature
Incendiary Fire
Independent Crown Fire
Indirect Attack
Infrared Scanner
Initial Action
Initial Attack
Initial Attack Base
Initial Attack Crew
Initial Attack Resources
Initial Spread Index
Inspection Run
Intake Hose
Intermediate Fuels
Intermediate helicopter
Intermittent Crown Fire
Intermittent Smoke
Intervalometer
Inversion
Island(s) of a Fire
Isobar
Allumage
Patron d'allumage
Allumage à angle
Allumage d’une surface *
Allumage par points
Allumage à contre vent
Allumage central
Allumage au flanc
Allumage au vent
Allumage en chevrons *
Allumage périphérique
Allumage par bandes
Point d'inflammation;
Température d'allumage
Feu de cause incendiaire
Feu de cime indépendant
Attaque indirecte
Thermovision (appareil de)
Opérations effectuées entre le
moment où un feu est signalé et
le début de l'attaque initiale*
Attaque initiale
Base d'attaque initiale
Équipe d’attaque initiale
Ressources d'attaque initiale
Indice de propagation initiale
Circuit d’inspection
Tuyau d'aspiration
Combustible moyen
Hélicoptère moyen-porteur
Feu de cime intermittent
Fumée intermittente
Intervalomètre
Inversion
Îlot(s) résiduels
Isobare
J
Jump Fire
Feu disséminé
K
Kindling Point
Point d'inflammation;
Température d'allumage
L
Ladder Fuels
Lanyard
Lead In
Legitimate Smoke
Level of protection
Light hélicoptère
Lightning Detection System
Lightning Fire
Lightning Locator System
Limited Action Fire
Line Boss
Line Camp (Fireline Camp)
*
*
Combustible étagé
Élingue
Circuit guidé
Fumée légitime
Niveau ou intensité de protection
*
Hélicoptère léger
Système de détection de la foudre
Feu de foudre
Système de localisation de la
foudre
Incendie à intervention limitée
Chef de suppression
Campement près de la ligne de
feu *
Intensité du feu; Intensité du front
de flammes
Line Foreman
Chef de suppression
Line Locator
Localisateur de ligne de
suppression
Litres of Water per Hour Concept Concept de largages successifs
Litter
Litière
Loaded Patrol
Détection aérienne effectuée avec
une équipe d'attaque initiale à
bord ou une charge de retardant *
Loading Pad
Aire de chargement
Loading Ramp
Rampe de chargement
Longline
Longue élingue *
Long-term Retardant
Retardant à long terme
Lookout
Point d’observation
Lookout Cupola
Cabine d'une tour d'observation
Lookout Tower
Tour d'observation
Lost Line
Ligne échappée
Low-level Jet Wind
Courant-jet de basse altitude
Line-fire Intensity
M
Man-caused Fire
Manning Action
Maple Leaf Ignition
Medium Fuels
Medium Helicopter
Mineral Soil
Minisonde Observation
Miscellaneous Fire
Mixing Height
Mixmaster
Modified Response Fire
Moisture Content
Mop-up
Mop-up Time
Multiple Fire Situation
Multiple Strip Backfire
Multiple Strip Flank Fire
Multiple Strip Head Fire
Muskeg Tanker
Feu de causes humaines
Action de mobiliser
Allumage en chevrons *
Combustible moyen
Hélicoptère moyen-porteur
Sol minéral
Observation par mini-sonde
Feu de causes diverses
Couche de brassage
Responsable de mélange
Feu contre lequel l'on fournit peu
ou aucun effort de suppression , à
moins qu’il n’enfreigne certaines
limites pré-établies *
Teneur en humidité
Extinction
Période d’extinction active
Incendies multiples (situation d’)
Allumage à contre vent par
bandes *
Allumage au flanc par bandes*
Allumage au vent par bandes *
Citerne tout-terrain *
N
Natural Fire
Negative Suction Lift
Neutral Atmosphere
Non-Percolating Hose
Non-ventilated Psychrometer
Not Under Control
Feu de causes naturelles
Hauteur d'aspiration négative
Atmosphère neutre
Tuyau imperméable
Psychromètre non-ventilé
Hors-contrôle; Non maîtrisé
O
One Strike Concept
Origin(s) of a Fire
Other Industry Fire
Out
Out of Control
Overwintering Fire
Concept de largage à sortie
unique
Foyer initial
Feu d'opérations industrielles
(autres que les opérations
forestières)
Éteint
Feu hors-contrôle
Feu hibernant
P
Pack Pump
Para-cargo
Para-drop
Parallel Attack
Parallel Pumping
Partial Control
Passive Crown Fire
Équivalent anglais approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent anglais en usage.
For French terms that have no English equivalent, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Réservoir portatif
Frêt à parachuter *
Ballot parachuté *
Attaque parallèle
Raccordement en parallèle
Contenu
Feu de cime intermittent
Patrol
Patrol Time
People-caused Fire
Percolating hose
Perimeter Fire Ignition
(Perimeter Firing)
Period of alert
Person-caused Fire
Pilot Balloon Observation
(PIBAL)
Pocket(s) of a Fire
Point(s) of Origin
Position analyser
Positive Suction Lift
Power Pump
Power Pump Kit
Power Pump Unit
Preattack Plan
Preattack Planning
Precipitation
Preheating Phase of Combustion
Preparedness
Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Fire
Pressure Altitude
Presuppression
Prevention
Primary Weather Station
Probe
Project Fire
Psychrometer
Pulaski
Pumper Trailer
Patrouille
Période de patrouille
Feu de causes humaines
Tuyau suintant *
Allumage périphérique
Période d'alerte
Feu de causes humaines
Observation par ballon-pilote
Baie(s) d'un feu
Foyer initial
Analyseur de position
Hauteur d'aspiration positive
Motopompe
Ensemble de motopompe *
Ensemble de motopompe *
Plan de présuppression
Préparation du plan de
présuppression *
Précipitations
Phase de préchauffage
État de préparation
Brûlage dirigé
Brûlage dirigé
Altitude-pression
Pré Suppression
Prévention
Station météo (principale)
Lance de profondeur
Incendie d'envergure
Psychromètre
Pulaski
Remorque-citerne *
Q
R
Radial Strip Flank Fire
Radiation
Railroad Fire
Rain
Rain Gauge
Rake, Fire
Rappel Crew
Rate of Area Growth
Rate of Perimeter Growth
Rate of Perimeter Increase
Rate of Spread (ROS)
Rawinsonde Observation
Rear of a Fire
Reburn
Recreation Fire
Relative Humidity (RH)
Relay Tank
Remote Automatic Weather
Station (RAWS)
Report Time
Reservoir Tank
Residence Time
Resident Fire
Resistance to Control
Resistance to Fireguard
Construction
Response Time
Restricted Fire Zone
*
*
Allumage en chevrons *
Radiation
Feu de chemin de fer
Pluie
Pluviomètre
Râteau Rich
Équipe de rappel
Taux d'accroissement de la
superficie
Taux d'accroissement du
périmètre
Taux d'accroissement du
périmètre
Vitesse de propagation
Observation par sonde radiovent
*
Arrière d'un feu
Rebrûlage
Feu de récréation
Humidité relative
Réservoir-relais
Station météorologique
automatique
Période du rapport
Réservoir-relais
Temps de passage
Feu de résidants
Résistance à la suppression
Résistance à la construction d'un
coupe-feu *
Période de réponse
Territoire où des activités ou la
circulation sont interdites *
Restricted Travel Zone
Retardant
Retardant Base
Rich Tool
Risk from Wildfire
Rotor Downwash
Running (Fire)
Running Crown Fire
Territoire où des activités ou la
circulation sont interdites *
Retardant
Base de retardant *
Râteau Rich
Possibilité de perte dûe à un
incendie de forêt *
Souffle du rotor
Feu roulant
Feu de cime roulant *
S
Safety Zone
Salvo
Scout
Screened Area
Secondary Weather Station
Sector
Sector Boss
Seen Area
Visible
Screened
Blind
Seen Area Map
Shock Crew
Short -term Retardant
Shovel, Fire
Siamese
Sides of a Fire
Single Strip Backfire
Single Strip Flank Fire
Single Strip Head Fire
Situation Report (SITREP)
Skidder Tanker
Skidder Unit
Skimmer
Slash
Slashburning
Slash Disposal
Sleeper Fire
Sling
Sling Psychrometer
Slip-on Tank
Slope
Slurry
Smoke
Legitimate Smoke
False Smoke
Drift Smoke
Interm ittent Smoke
Smoke Haze
Smoke Column
Équivalent anglais approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent anglais en usage.
For French terms that have no English equivalent, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Zone de sécurité
Largage total
Éclaireur
Zone non visible à l'intérieur du
territoire couvert par une tour
d'observation, mais pour laquelle
les chances d'y détecter une fumée
sont acceptables *
Station météorologique
secondaire
Secteur
Chef de section
Zone visible à partir d'une tour
d'observation *
Zone visible à partir d'une tour
d'observation *
Zone non visible à l'intérieur
du territoire couvert par une tour
d'observation, mais pour laquelle
les chances d'y détecter une fumée
sont acceptables *
Zone non visible à l'intérieur
du territoire couvert par une tour
d'observation *
Carte de visibilité d'une tour
d'observation *
Équipe d’attaque initiale
Retardant à court terme
Pelle à incendie
Siamoise renversée; Collecteur
Flancs d'un feu
Allumage à contre vent d'une
seule bande *
Allumage au flanc d'une seule
bande *
Allumage au vent d'une seule
bande *
Rapport de la situation
Citerne montée sur une
débusqueuse *
Équipement de combat pour
débusqueuse *
Aéronef capable d'écoper *
Déchets de coupe; Rémanents
Brûlage dirigé à plat *
Élimination des déchets de coupe
Feu couvant
Élingue
Psychromètre fronde *
Réservoir amovible
Pente *
Retardant mélangé (bouillie de
retardant) *
Fumée
Fumée légitime
Fausse fumée
Fumée traînante
Fumée intermittente
Brume sèche causée par la
fumée
Colonne de fumée
Smoke Column
Smoke Haze
Smokejumpers
Smoke Management
Smoke Sensitive Area
Smouldering Combustion
Smouldering (Fire)
Smudge
Snag
Solid Mass Transport
Solid Phase of Combustion
Spot Fire
Spot Ignition
Spotting
Spot Weather Forecast
Sprinkler Kit
Squall Line
Stable Atmosphere
Stages of Control
Staging Camp
Standby
Static Discharge Head
Static Suction Lift
Stevenson Screen
Strategy, Fire Suppression
String Drop
Strip Fire Ignition
Subsidence
Subsurface Fire
Suction Hose
Suction Lift
Suppressant
Suppression
Suppression Boss
Suppression Crew
Surface Fire
Surface Fuels
Surfactant
Sustained Action Crew
Synoptic Chart
Colonne de fumée
Brume sèche causée par la fumée
Équipe d’intervention parachutée
Gestion de la fumée
Zone de sensibilité à la fumée
Combustion couvante
Feu couvant
Point chaud
Chicot
Propagation par transport de
matières en combustion
Phase de combustion du charbon
Feu disséminé
Allumage par points
Feu se disséminant *
Prévision spéciale de ForêtMétéo
Ensemble d’asperseurs
Ligne de grain
Atmosphère stable *
Conditions d'un incendie
Pied-à-terre
En alerte
Hauteur statique à la lance
Hauteur statique d'aspiration
Abri Stevenson (pour station
météo); abri anglais *
Stratégie
Largage séquentiel
Allumage par bandes
Subsidence
Feu de profondeur
Tuyau d'aspiration
Hauteur d'aspiration
Retardant à court terme
Suppression
Chef de suppression
Équipe de suppression
Feu de surface
Combustibles de surface
Surfactant
Équipe d’intervention soutenue
Carte synoptique
T
Tactics, Fire Suppression
Tandem
Tanker
Tank Trailer
Thermal Imagery
Thermograph
Thermohygrometer
Thunderhead
Thunderstorm
Timelag (TL)
Tool Cache
Tools, Hand, Fire
Pulaski
Rake, Fire (Rich Type)
Shovel, Fire
Torch or Torching
Tower Cupola
Towerman
Travel Time
Turnaround time
Type
Type of Fire
Types of hose
*
*
Tactique
Tandem
Camion-citerne *
Remorque-citerne *
Imagerie thermique
Thermographe
Thermohygromètre *
Nuage d’orage; Cumulonimbus*
Orage
Temps de séchage type
Dépôt d'outillage
Outils manuels
Pulaski
Râteau Rich
Pelle à incendie
Flambée en chandelle
Cabine de tour d'observation
Observateur de tour
Période de déplacement
Durée d’une rotation (d’un
avion-citerne)
Type (système de classification
des ressources de lutte) *
Catégories de feu
Types de tuyau
U
UHF
Under Control
Unknown Fire
Unstable Atmosphere
Upper Ridge
Upper Ridge Breakdown
Upper Trough
UHF
Maîtrisé
Feu de cause inconnue
Atmosphère instable *
Anticyclone en altitude *
Rupture d'un anticyclone en
altitude *
Creux en altitude
V
Values-at-Risk
Values-at-Stake
Van
Ventilated Psychrometer
Ventilation Index (VI)
Venting Index
Vertical Temperature Profile
Vertical Wind Profile
VHF
VHF-AM
VHF-FM
Virga
Viscosity
Visibility Map
Visible Area
Vortex Turbulence
Valeurs à protéger
Valeurs à protéger
Articles de dépannage *
Psychromètre à ventilation forcée
*
Indice de ventilation *
Indice de ventilation *
Profil vertical des températures*
Profil vertical des vents *
VHF *
VHF -AM *
VHF -FM *
Virga *
Viscosité
Carte de visibilité *
Zone visible à partir d'une tour
d'observation *
Turbulence de sillage
W
Warm Front
Water Bombing
Water Thief
Weather Map
Weather Radar
Weather Station
Wet-bulb Depression
Wet-bulb Temperature
Wet-bulb Thermometer
Wet Water
Wetting Agent
Wildfire
Wildland Urban Interface
Wind Direction
Windfall
Winds Aloft
Wind Speed
Wind Vane
Wye
Front Chaud
Arrosage aérien
Voleur d'eau
Carte synoptique
Radar météorologique *
Station météorologique
Différence psychrométrique *
Température du thermomètre
humide *
Thermomètre humide
Solution mouillante
Agent mouillant
Incendie de forêt
Milieu périurbain
Direction du vent *
Chablis
Vents en altitude *
Vitesse du vent *
Girouette *
Siamoise; Diviseur
X
Y
Z
Zone Weather Forecast
Équivalent anglais approximatif ou expression explicative. Il n'existe pas d'équivalent anglais en usage.
For French terms that have no English equivalent, an approximate term or explanation is given.
Prévision météorologique par
zone *